Art of Science: Science in Motion

Science doesn’t sit still – and neither does Tyler Sarovich’s research.

The doctoral student in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, transformed Huntington’s disease neurons into a three-dimensional video that brings scientific discovery to life, and earned him the top spot in the university’s Art of Science photography and videography contest.

“I wanted to show that research isn’t static,” said Sarovich, who is studying neuroscience at FAU’s Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute. “Science is dynamic and sometimes the best way to understand it is to actually see it happening.”

Sarovich’s winning video, called Expanded Insight, uses a technique known as expansion microscopy to magnify neuronal structures and reveal molecular interactions that are otherwise invisible under standard imaging. The result is a vivid and immersive video that blends advanced neuroscience with artistic storytelling.

To push beyond traditional limits of resolution, Sarovich physically expands his samples by embedding them in a hydrogel that swells up to 10 times its original size. This process allows researchers to observe minute cellular activity with remarkable clarity.

While the technique was developed to answer a scientific question, Sarovich said he quickly realized its artistic power.

“A still image can only tell part of the story,” said Sarovich, who earned an honorable mention for a photograph in last year’s contest. “But when you show a video, when you can rotate it, move through it, people start to understand that these cells are alive, complex and constantly interacting.”

By combining color, motion and depth, his said his work invites audiences outside the lab to engage with neuroscience in an intuitive way.

“The goal wasn’t just to make something pretty. It was to make something meaningful, something that represents the science honestly, but in a way people can connect with,” he said. “Art of Science breaks down barriers. It gives people a window into research that sometimes can feel intimidating or inaccessible. If someone walks away curious, or even inspired, that’s a win.”

Looking ahead, Sarovich said he plans to explore live-cell imaging techniques that would allow him to capture real-time cellular processes.

“Whether it’s data or art,” he said, “the goal is the same: to help people see what’s really happening inside the brain.”