Staff

Janice Aitken

Lecturer & eLearning Coordinator

Tel: 01382 385349
Email: j.z.aitken@dundee.ac.uk
Room 1600, Level 3 Matthew Building,
DJCAD 13 Perth Road DD1 4HT

Background and Teaching

Janice Aitken has a background in fine art, digital film and community art and has worked at DJCAD since 2003. She currently lectures on courses across DJCAD, teaching the use of digital tools. At the core of her teaching is the integration of the digital into the process of research, development and production of creative work.

Research & Scholarship

Janice is currently engaged in visualisation projects which combine fine art practice with digital animation software. The main focus of this research is to create visual materials to facilitate education and further the understanding of scientific and historical research. The arenas in which exposition of this work takes place are: Museums and galleries the creation of materials for exhibition both in a contemporary visual art context and in museum exhibits Education the design of learning resources which allow for visualisation of otherwise difficult to explain concepts and processes Broadcast media the creation of visual and interpretive materials which enhance learning through documentary media.

Details of Teaching

As Academic Coordinator for Digital Teaching & Learning, Janice has a strategic overview of the way in which digital tools are used both in the teaching and learning process and as part of the range of tools available to students to create work. She collaborates with colleagues across DJCAD to develop and deliver projects which effectively link the use of Digital tools with the process of creative research and production. Modules for which Janice Aitken is Module Leader: TV21013 Contemporary Media Practice 1 TV22013 Contemporary Media Practice 2 CD21001 Digital Production Tools 1 CD22001 Digital Production Tools 2 She teaches on the following theory modules: HT30005 - Contemporary Media Theory, 3: Analysis, Critique And Professional Practice HT41004 - Contemporary Media Theory: Research Outcomes: Dissertation She also leads the Time Based Art & Digital Film Projects in General Foundation.

Research

Janice is currently engaged in visualisation projects which combine fine art practice with digital animation software. The main focus of this research is to create visual materials to facilitate education and further the understanding of scientific and historical research. The arenas in which exposition of this work takes place are:

• Museums and galleries the creation of materials for exhibition both in a contemporary visual art context and in museum exhibits 
• Education the design of learning resources which allow for visualisation of otherwise difficult to explain concepts and processes 
• Broadcast media the creation of visual and interpretive materials which enhance learning through documentary media

Texturing of Forensic Facial Reconstructions

Janice Aitken regularly collaborates with Forensic Anthropologist Dr Caroline Wilkinson to create textured and rendered images from forensic facial reconstructions. The process of digitally rebuilding a face from skeletal remains is carried out by Dr Wilkinson and her team. The resulting digital model is then textured and hair and eyes added by Janice Aitken. Aitken then renders images which can be displayed either as stills or rotation sequences.

Research Outputs

Facial Reconstruction of JS BachJuly 2008 

Invited to present a paper on the texturing and animation of the facial reconstruction of JSBach to the 13th Biennial Scientific Meeting of the International Association for Craniofacial Identification.
March 2008 - Bach through the Mirror of Medicine, (Exhibition) Bachhaus, Eisenach, Germany. A forensic facial reconstruction of the face of JSBach was commissioned as a key exhibit in the exhibition. An animation and illustrations created by Aitken from Dr Caroline Wilkinsons digitally sculpted forensic reconstruction were exhibited. Aitkens images were also used by press across the world to publicise the project.

Exhibition Catalogue - Bach through the Mirror of Medicine ISBN978-3-932257-05-6

Eukaryotic Cell Learning ToolFebruary March 2009 Elusive Element, (Exhibition) Lamb Gallery & Queen Mother Building, University of Dundee. Invited to exhibit a suite of contemporary digital prints inspired by the internal structure of the Eukaryotic Cell. Part of the Women in STEM event. Exhibited alongside Sandra Wilson, Claudia Wegner, Paul Harrison/Dr Mhairi Towler

Forensic Facial Reconstruction of Arsinoe, sister of Cleopatra.
March 2009 Forensic Facial Reconstruction of Arsinoe, sister of Cleopatra. Created a fully rendered animation from the reconstruction. Collaboration with Dr Caroline Wilkinson and Dr Chris Rynn. Exposition of work included its use in a BBC1 TV programme Cleopatra, Portrait of a Killer Broadcast 9.00 pm, Monday 23rd March 2009 and various publications including the Sunday Times.

Forensic Facial Reconstruction of Clonycavan Man April 2009 Texturing, rendering and animation of Forensic Facial Reconstruction of, a bog body found in the Republic of Ireland. To be exhibited in the National Museum of Ireland