Science as an Art is a zine that highlights the similarities and differences between science and art. The work strives to connect these two ideas through the use of poetry. There are nine poems in the zine, with one page of researchers answering the question: “What does science mean to you?” Poems cover topics such as accessibility, dissemination, and the scientific method, among others. Poetry is a powerful lens to view and understand scientific practices and principles.
Madalyn R. Lovejoy is a published poet and undergraduate researcher majoring in Psychology and Gender, Women’s and Sexuality Studies at the University of Iowa. She has over thirty published poems and creative writing projects in various magazines or publications on-campus and online. Madalyn is a recipient of the UI:MARC fellowship, and is a member of the Clinical- Cognitive Science Lab. She and her mentor, Dr. Teresa Treat, work on various projects relating to sexual attitudes and behaviors of college students. Madalyn’s current research looks at the rape-supportive attitudes that college men and women endorse between gender-inclusive and heteronormative measures. She wrote and defended an honors thesis on this subject in October 2023. Her research has been presented at various conferences and festivals hosted by the University of Iowa, and she will be presenting her most recent project at the Midwestern Psychological Association Conference in April 2024. Her drive to combine artistic and scientific endeavors reflects her belief that science is a creative practice that affects many aspects of life.
Vaccinations have been one of the greatest and most impactful medical developments in human history, but many people do not truly understand how they work. This lack of comprehension can understandably lead to wariness and even refusal of immunizations for people and their children. That is why the “Vaccination Power” poster was created, to help de-mysticize vaccines and help more people to recognize their importance. And just like all the Pictures of Health posters, it was based entirely on proven science.
The Science Behind “Vaccination Power”
The purpose of vaccination is to induce the body’s natural immune response to a specific pathogen in a safe, controlled manner before actually coming into contact with the pathogen. A pathogen is an infectious organism that causes illness in a host system and is most commonly a bacteria or virus. Of the two immune systems in the human body – the innate and the adaptive – the adaptive immune system is the one responsible for responding to specific pathogens and generating long-term immunity.[1] Since the body normally takes multiple days to build an active immune response to a new pathogen, vaccines can prepare this response prior to exposure and speed up the process of clearing the illness whenever exposure does occur. The way that vaccinations achieve this is by mimicking the specific pathogen being targeted, and this imitation-infection can be accomplished in multiple ways.
Vaccines introduce a safe form of a pathogen’s antigen – the component of a pathogen that is targeted by the body’s immune system. There are various ways that antigens can be incorporated into a vaccine. One way is by including the pathogen itself, either as dead pathogen or in a weakened/inactivated form (referred to as live-attenuated) that does not pose significant risk of full-on infection.[2] Other vaccines use only a specific, recognizable feature of the antigen to invoke an immune response. These different methods result in different extents of immunity, which is why some vaccines require booster doses while others do not. Still, they all achieve the same end result of establishing immune cells that will remember and more efficiently fight off future infection.
Antigens are not the only component found in a vial of vaccine, and without understanding the purpose and function of other vaccine elements they can seem alarming. However, every component in vaccines is both safe and important to the efficacy of the immunization.[3] Many of these elements are left over from the process of preparing the antigen. Formaldehyde is a common agent for inactivating pathogens and is only found at levels even more dilute than what is already naturally present in the human body, meaning it poses no risk to the vaccine recipient’s health. Residual proteins used to propagate enough pathogen for use in the vaccine may also be present, with a common one being egg protein. Once again, these pose no significant risk to most vaccine recipients. For those with egg allergies there are a variety of options or alternative vaccines available upon talking with a physician about it. The majority of the remaining vaccine contents consist of stabilizers, preservatives, and adjuvants – things like aluminum salts that help to enhance the body’s reaction to the vaccine and build a stronger immune response.[3] Again, though the list of ingredients in a vaccine can seem alarming at first glance, every component has a specific function and is carefully measured to mitigate potential harms.
While all vaccines are carefully and thoroughly crafted to be safe as well as effective, not everyone is able to receive vaccines. For example, those who are immunocompromised – such as individuals with HIV/AIDS or those on immunosuppressors for various medical conditions – are not recommended to receive live-attenuated vaccines.[2] While normally the human body can easily prevent true infection from a live-attenuated vaccine (resulting in the desired immune memory response), those with suppressed immune systems may not be capable and run the risk of contracting the illness despite the pathogen being extremely weakened. Other individuals may not be able to be vaccinated due to religious restrictions or allergies to certain vaccine components. Because of cases like these, it is crucial for everyone who is able to be vaccinated so that we can achieve herd immunity. Herd immunity is the state in which a high enough percentage of the population is immune and the pathogen can no longer effectively spread, protecting the small portion of individuals unable to be immunized.[4] This is why vaccination is so important. It not only helps to protect yourself, but also helps to protect others.
Though vaccination is not an absolute guarantee against contracting an illness, it has proven time and time again throughout history to be a highly effective tool in protecting against illness, decreasing the severity of illness, and preventing the spread of infection.
[1] Clem, A. S. (2011). Fundamentals of Vaccine Immunology. Journal of global infectious diseases. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3068582/
[2] CDC. (2023, May 24). Explaining how vaccines work. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/conversations/understanding-vacc-work.html
[3] CDC. (2022, July 14). What’s in vaccines? ingredients and vaccine safety. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/additives.htm
[4] WHO. (2020, December 8). How do vaccines work?. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/how-do-vaccines-work
Just like running on a broken ankle will only make it worse, allowing yourself to struggle with your mental health instead of taking the time to care for yourself just perpetuates your suffering. Mental health issues – like all health issues – are largely influenced by biochemistry and physiology. Unfortunately, mental health has been a historically stigmatized issue, and even with the modern shift in the public’s understanding of it, many people still feel too embarrassed or scared to ask for help when they need it. That is why “Obstructed View” was created. This poster is meant to separate mental and emotional wellness from the history and reputation that has been associated with it, and to talk about mental health in a different, intuitive way. And just like all the Pictures of Health posters, it was based entirely on science.
The Science Behind “Obstructed View”
Mental wellness is a two-part issue comprising both mental health and mental illness. Mental health describes executive functioning and pertains to the ability to be productive, maintain social and romantic relationships, and handle stressors. Mental illness describes specific disorders that impact a person’s emotions and ways of thinking, which can also impact their mental health.[1] Despite the persistent stigma and lack of public awareness, mental illness is a widespread issue, with approximately one in five U.S. adults and 17% of children aged 6-17 experiencing mental illness.[2] Examples of common mental illnesses are depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).[3]
The severity of mental illnesses can vary widely, from mild to severe, and can be heavily influenced by both biological and environmental factors. Many mental illnesses can be genetically inherited, so a family history of mental illness may raise your risk of developing illness yourself. Mental disorders also are influenced by brain chemistry, so things like neurotransmitter deficiencies, brain damage, or exposure to toxic substances in the womb can contribute to the development of mental illnesses later in life.[4] Your risk and susceptibility to mental illness is also more frequently impacted by environmental stressors such as trauma, grief, financial strain, bullying, or dealing with chronic health issues.[4] Individually, physical and environmental stressors do not pose an immediate risk of leading to mental illness. Rather, it is a person’s combination of stressors and protective factors that determines the state of their mental health and their susceptibility to mental illness. Protective factors are attributes, skills, and circumstances throughout a person’s life that contributes to their ability to withstand and cope with stressors. Examples of protective factors are resilience, good emotional regulation, strong social relationships, community support, financial security, and physical safety.[5]
Even if someone is diagnosed with a mental illness, it is important to remember that it is not a life-ending event, and that there is an array of options for managing and treating it. First and foremost, a plan for treatment should always be made through collaboration between the individual, a physician or licensed health professional, and any members of the individual’s support network that they wish to include. This plan can then be tailored to the specific needs of the individual based on the severity of their illness. Management options can include self-help and lifestyle changes (like improving diet, exercise, and sleep habits), psychotherapy (also called talk therapy), medication, or a mix of all three.[1] There are a variety of medications available, each with different purposes and effects, that can radically improve quality of life for those dealing with mental illnesses. Reuptake inhibitors are commonly used to treat depression and anxiety disorders by targeting certain neurotransmitter deficiencies. Stimulants are useful for people with ADD/ADHD or narcolepsy as they increase focus and energy. Mood stabilizers and antipsychotics are often prescribed for disorders like bipolar, depression, and schizophrenia.[6] Some medications may produce immediate results for those who take them, but often it will take multiple weeks for medications to take effect, so it is important to be consistent and to openly communicate with your health provider about the status of your mental health.
Though it may be intimidating to speak out and seek help when it comes to struggling with mental health, it is an important and beneficial thing to do. Not only can your mental health suffer due to unmanaged mental illness, but your physical health can suffer as well. Many disorders are associated with fatigue, pain from muscle tension, issues resulting from poor sleep, and heart disease. Unmanaged depression and related disorders can also lead to physical self-harm.[3][4] But it does not have to come to that. There are so many local and national resources available to help you if you feel like your mental health is suffering, and medicine is constantly advancing to discover new ways to treat mental illness. Everyone struggles, and everyone deserves help, so do not be afraid to ask for it when you need it.
[1] APA. (2022, November). What is Mental Illness?. Psychiatry.org – What is Mental Illness? https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-mental-illness
[2] NAMI. (2023, April). Mental health by the numbers. https://www.nami.org/mhstats
[3] National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (UK). (2011, January). Common mental health disorders. Common Mental Health Disorders: Identification and Pathways to Care. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92254/
[4] Mayo Clinic Staff. (2022, December 13). Mental illness. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mental-illness/symptoms-causes/syc-20374968
[5] WHO. (2022, June 17). Mental health. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw5cOwBhCiARIsAJ5njuYdGiyvCRmPNwOTE-yQx0uVWEdMtqO10YoKsYNRL4aDfjyuzq_XP0AaAjZUEALw_wcB
[6] NIMH. (2024). Mental health medications. National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/mental-health-medications
