The European Organization for Nuclear Research, known as CERN, is next to the European Southern Observatory (ESO) second scientific mentoring institutions in the European Digital Art and Science Network. CERN is European research organisation that operates the largest particle physics laboratory in the world. At CERN is also place for art, namely the programme Arts@CERN, whose flagship programme is Collide@CERN Artists Residency Award. The artist duo Semiconductor is a recipient of the latter. The English artist duo consisting of Ruth Jarman and Joe Gerdhardt started the residency just in the beginning of October 2015. This one will last for two months at CERN, and later on they will spend a month at the Ars Electronica Futurelab. We have talked to Joe Gerdhardt after his lecture at Ars Electronica Festival 2015. It was premature to discuss the residency, so he shared some words about Semiconductor´s previous works and projects with us.

With what exactly did the English artist duo convince the jury, explained the Director of Arts@CERN Mónica Bello, one of the members of the Collide@CERN Ars Electronica jury. She also held a lecture about the CERN´s engagement with the art in the Prix Forum titled Art & Science Round Table at this year´s Ars Electronica Festival. Contributing guest and her colleague from CERN, Michael Doser, discussed the collaborations of art and science, a chaos and a mess in the research process, and why organisations as CERN should look for a crazy and visionary projects with a high likelihood of failing.

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The series of five art & science radio broadcasts are supported by Ars Electronica, and produced with the intention to follow the European Digital Art and Science Network.

Microphone: Sarah Praschak and Jerneja Zavec