Art and science share a parallel history, each inspiring breakthroughs in the other and together illuminating the human experience. Though it is not always thought of in this way, science is an inextricable part of human culture. As UN General Comment 25 (on article 15: science and economic, social and cultural rights) explains, science is firmly anchored among the cultural rights – a position which affirms that the role of science is much broader than technical advancement alone, instead being deeply linked to society through human creativity, expression, identity, and wellbeing, as reflected in the ISC’s own interpretation of ‘the right to participate in and benefit from science’.
In the blog post below, María Eugenia Fazio explores how visual communication and design can help bring this right to life. Through a regional initiative led by UNESCO and partners in Latin America and the Caribbean, the 2022 exhibition Designing the Right to Science mobilized students and professionals to interpret the Right to Science through compelling, culturally rooted poster designs. These works serve not only as creative expressions but as powerful tools for awareness, inclusion, and public engagement.
As science faces renewed challenges—from misinformation to restricted access—the ISC is proud to share this example of how artistic approaches can help make science more visible, accessible, and meaningful to all.
If something is pink, round, and soft, it conveys tenderness; if it is gray, straight, and sharp, it might suggest danger. Regardless of the image in question, the power of visual communication is undeniable. This power becomes especially valuable when it comes to making distant or abstract—yet highly relevant—topics more visible, such as the Right to Science. This right has been enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for nearly 80 years (UN, 1948), yet it remains largely unknown.
Colors, textures, typography, shapes, and their arrangement create visual codes that, when used thoughtfully and with clear objectives, can condense complex ideas, make them more comprehensible, and connect with audiences. These strengths served as the inspiration for the 2022 collective poster exhibition Designing the Right to Science, featuring graphic pieces created by students and professionals from Latin America and the Caribbean. The exhibition aimed to raise awareness of and amplify our right to “participate in scientific progress and enjoy its benefits.”
Posters are a form of graphic design that calls for action. For them to be effective, their geographical, generational and cultural references must resonate with the audience. It is within this connection that an implicit message emerges: “I know you, and this is for you.”
The participants of Designing the Right to Science applied this approach in their posters. Sebastián Puentes Riveiro (Argentina), for instance, used simple lines and colors to illustrate the collective and diverse spirit of science, emphasizing that everyone has a place in the production of knowledge. Amparo Bengochea da Fonte (Uruguay) relied on icons and primary colors to highlight open science as the key to overcoming commercial barriers that limit access. Meanwhile, Anne “Higavoch” Teixeir (Brazil) adopted a pop-art style with contrasting colors and shapes to evoke the idea that everyone has the right to view the world through the critical and rigorous lens that science offers.
In other cases, violet and green were used to emphasize the rightful place of women in science. Elsewhere, typography and figures underscored curiosity as an essential component of fully exercising the Right to Science. These are the shortcuts of visual communication—effective not only in capturing attention in an era of information overload but also in breaking through the formal and impersonal barriers that often characterize institutional communication.
Designing the Right to Science was the result of a regional initiative led by UNESCO, with the collaboration of the Interuniversity Scientific Culture Agency “Saberes en Territorio”, the Scientific Research Commission (CIC) of Buenos Aires Province, the science journalism platform “Entre Tanta Ciencia” (Etc), the Uruguayan design blog “Mirá Mamá”, and the collective “Uruguay Cartel”.
This diverse consortium—encompassing institutions of various natures—aligns with the initiative’s goal: to explore multiple ways of expressing and connecting with the Right to Science.
Shown here are 21 pieces, from over 80 submissions, which were selected for exhibition in 2022.
For more information on the artists and the meanings behind their works, please visit the virtual gallery.
Artists of posters in order: Amparo Bengochea da Fonte, Anne Teixeira, Byron Flores Reyes, Eduardo Davit, Eduardo G. Jaramillo Ruiz, Federico Damonte, Federico García Guzzini, Federico Sáez, Gisela & Nicol Chaipul, Katherine Vanessa López Martínez, Leo Moreira, Leonardo Rodriguez, Leticia Sotura Vaz, Lucía Fidalgo, María Ximena Fontaiña, Paula Gabrielli, Sebastián Puentes Rivero, Sofía Martina, Vera Morales & Ivonne Khuri, Victoria Simon, Yudiel Chala
María Eugenia Fazio
Professor & Researcher in Science & Technology Communication and the Director of the Specialization in Communication, Management and Cultural Production of Science and Technology at the National University of Quilmes, Argentina.
Image by Saberes en territorio Proyecto Interunivesitario de Cultura Cientifica
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