An innovative new installation is now on display at Green's Windmill & Science Centre in Nottingham. 'Early Universes' blends cutting-edge mathematical physics with contemporary art to allow visitors to see, touch and feel wave patterns that emerge from fluid systems.
The installation explores the birth of cosmic structure in the early Universe by examining the evolution of complex wave patterns emerging from the surface of a fluid, otherwise known as interface waves, since their behaviour reflects the initial chaotic state of the Universe. These waves were recreated in the lab and captured using advanced imaging techniques developed at the School of Mathematical Sciences at Nottingham.
For the artwork, these wave patterns were 3D printed to create a series of striking black discs. They offer audiences a chance to see—and even touch—frozen moments in a wave's life and, by extension, in the Universe's life. Each disc represents a distinct phase in the wave's transformation, from visibly ordered patterns to turbulent chaos.
The work is the result of a unique collaboration between Maciej Jarema, a PhD student from the School of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Nottingham, and Alistair McClymont, an acclaimed installation artist and lecturer at Glasgow School of Art and University of the Arts London.
"For us scientists, this project makes complicated scientific ideas more accessible. Just as science can make nature accessible to those who choose to study it, art can make the same concepts accessible to everyone." says Maciej Jarema, who is currently researching the fundamentals of quantum science. "Now everyone can touch waves, feel them, and get to understand them in their own ways". In addition to tactile artworks that invite physical interaction—benefiting those who learn and engage through hands-on experience—a series of booklets have also been created. These fold-out artworks can be taken home to be displayed as posters, offering visitors a way to continue exploring and learning beyond the exhibition.
The collaboration was made possible through ARTlab Nottingham, an inter- and transdisciplinary research initiative housed within the Faculty of Science. Designed to encourage creative exchange between science and the arts, ARTlab supports a range of projects at the intersection of art and science. Dr Ulrike Kuchner, co-founder of the ARTlab says, "At ARTlab, we don't see art and science as separate languages—but as two voices in the same conversation, each expanding the other's capacity to ask questions, imagine possibilities, and make the invisible visible."
Alistair McClymont began a long-term collaboration with ARTlab Nottingham through an initial residency, during which he worked closely with Jarema and researchers from the Gravity Laboratory. Over the past two years, this relationship has developed naturally into an ongoing artistic and research exchange. What began as a conversation around visualisation, artistic interpretation, and the philosophy of observation gradually developed into a shared scientific investigation. McClymont has since joined a scientific research project at the School, where he is helping to implement novel optical techniques into cryogenic systems.
"The opportunity to work alongside scientists in their lab and collaborate has been incredible," says McClymont. "I'm fascinated by the beauty of these systems and excited to contribute to science in a meaningful way."
This project also marks a new partnership between the School of Mathematical Sciences and Green's Windmill & Science Centre, aiming to enhance the centre's scientific exhibitions and engage visitors with cutting-edge research. The collaboration began with a public event on 9 April 2025 that was attended by more than 100 members of the public—Mathematician Against All Odds: George Green's Life and Legacy—which explored Green's impact through talks and demonstrations at Lakeside Arts University of Nottingham. Building on this foundation, the project now finds a new stage in Green's historic windmill, birthplace of mathematical genius George Green (1793–1841), is a fitting venue for this fusion of art and science.
Despite having little formal education, Green was the first to develop a mathematical theory of electricity and magnetism—work that continues to shape modern physics.
"George Green's legacy lies not only in his groundbreaking equations but in the power of his story—a self-taught thinker who transcended the boundaries of his time," says Professor Paul Houston, Head of the School of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Nottingham. "Art-science collaborations like Early Universes carry forward that same spirit of curiosity and innovation, inspiring a new generation to explore the unknown."
ARTlab Nottingham provides a distinctive platform for students at the School of Mathematical Sciences to engage with broader audiences, experiment across disciplines, and expand the boundaries of what science communication can be.
Projects like this allow our students to think differently, explore ideas that might not fit neatly into traditional academic categories, and connect with people in powerful, creative ways
The Early Universes installation will be on display at Green's Windmill & Science Centre from Sunday the 29th June.
The project has been supported by an APEX award research collaboration between Dr Lina Jansson (Philosophy, School of Humanities) and Professor Silke Weinfurtner and Dr Marco Iglesias (School of Mathematics) funded by The British Academy, The Royal Academy of Engineering and The Royal Society with support from the Leverhulme Foundation.
