Interdisciplinary Serendipity and Leaving Room for Discovery with Francesco Scarel

How do you build a career that spans chemistry, documentary filmmaking, science communication and art-science curation without following a master plan?

In this episode of Art-Sci Currents, we speak with Francesco Scarel, founder of Liminal Research, about the unexpected path that led him from a chemistry PhD into the world of interdisciplinary collaboration. Francesco reflects on why some of the most meaningful careers emerge not from rigid planning, but from staying open to curiosity, uncertainty, and discovery.

Together, we explore what serendipity really means in interdisciplinary work, and why the role of a curator is often to ask better questions rather than provide answers.

Francesco Scarel is an art-science facilitator, curator, and science communicator exploring how artistic and creative practices can make science more accessible and meaningful to wider audiences. He is the founder of Liminal Research ETS, an organization dedicated to interdisciplinary science communication through art, creativity, and public engagement.

Francesco holds a PhD in Nanotechnology from the Freiburg Institute of Advanced Studies (FRIAS) and a Master's in Science Communication from SISSA, where he now teaches art-science and multimedia. His work spans science communication, documentary filmmaking, participatory media, and interdisciplinary curation, collaborating with research institutions, cultural organizations, and communities across Europe. He currently serves as the art-science curator for the Staranzano Water Festival, creating projects that foster scientific citizenship and encourage public participation in conversations about science, technology, and society.

Read more about our conversation with Francesco here.

Nicia John - HostBoth a researcher and classically-trained ballet dancer, Nicia thrives at the intersection of science and art. Her explorations of motor memory, dance neuroscience and art-science interdisciplinarity have been shaped by international training and collaborations across Canada, the Caribbean, the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe. Drawn to the undefined and the unexplored, she approaches discovery with curiosity and creativity as she prepares to begin her PhD studies in London.At the heart of her work is a growing vision for The Crearte Foundation, a non-profit she founded to support Art-Scientists and foster interdisciplinary collaboration. In the last two years, the Foundation has built a global network of art-science practitioners spanning 29 countries. Informed by her interests in ballet, design and research, she is committed to bridging the gap between art, science and society, allowing new truths to emerge from complex questions.Thanks for joining us on Art-Sci Currents, Season 2 Episode 4. You can learn more about our work and get in touch with us at www.crearte.ca/artscicurrentsCreditsHost Nicia JohnGuest Rasa WeberProject Assistant Brune BettlerAudio & Video Production 1 Nicia John Audio Editing 2 Andrea Gutierrez