Musifying Proteins

A SciArt Musical Project by Sofia J. Araújo and Laia de la Torre

Musifying Proteins is a SciArt project for scientific and artistic outreach created by Laia de la Torre (biologist, pianist, and composer) and myself, Sofia J. Araújo, a scientist, professor and science communicator. We are united by a shared passion: bringing science to the public in a sensitive, accessible, and inspiring way.

The goal of Musifying Proteins is to introduce the basic biochemistry of life, focusing especially on proteins and their amino acids, through music. At the same time, we aim to help audiences understand musical composition, showing how creative decisions like structure, rhythm, harmony and dynamics can reflect scientific concepts and evoke emotion. Proteins are essential molecules for life: they participate in processes such as digestion, movement, immune defense, and cellular communication. Despite their importance, they are often unfamiliar to the general public. With Musifying Proteins, we want to make them visible and understandable through the universal language of music.

The scientific approach of the project is rigorous yet accessible. Based on my experience in science communication and SciArt projects, I introduce each piece with a short talk explaining what proteins are, how they are formed, their structure, and why they are fundamental to life. We use visual and narrative metaphors to aid understanding while maintaining scientific accuracy.

The musical style of Musifying Proteins is rooted mainly in classical music, with original piano compositions created and performed by Laia. Each piece represents a specific aspect of biochemistry: the amino acid sequence, the three-dimensional folding of a protein, its function, or its interaction with other molecules. Music thus becomes a way to translate science into emotion, and also an opportunity to explain the musical creative process.

The staging of Musifying Proteins combines science and art in an intimate and immersive format. We begin with a brief scientific explanation by Sofia, followed by live piano performance by Laia. The event invites the audience to listen, learn, and feel, creating a unique experience where science is lived through the senses and music is understood from within.

Musifying Proteins is designed for schools, museums, cultural centers, festivals, and outreach spaces. We believe science can move people, and art can educate. With this project, we aim to contribute to a richer, more creative, and more approachable scientific and artistic culture.

This commitment has already led us to exciting milestones. In November, Musifying Proteins was selected as a semi-finalist in Simfonies de Ciència, organized by the ACCC, and voted through to the final. We also participated in the Cicle Ada Lovelace, organized by Centre Cívic Palmira Domènech and talked and played to the public at La Capsa. Both experiences allowed us to bring science and music closer to diverse audiences, reinforcing our mission to connect knowledge and emotion in innovative ways.

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