OU Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce that Nathalie Miebach, an acclaimed sculptor known for her interdisciplinary approach to art and science, has been appointed as the Goff Chair of Creative Architecture for 2025. As Goff Chair, Miebach is invited to give a public lecture in the upcoming semester, open to all Gibbs students, faculty, and staff.
In her upcoming lecture, Miebach will share insights into her innovative data-driven art process and the impact of aesthetics in scientific communication. The lecture will take place on Wednesday March 26, 2025, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Nielsen Hall, Room 170. It will be an opportunity for students, faculty, and practitioners to engage with a fascinating approach to creative data visualization and interdisciplinary storytelling.
Miebach explores the intersection of art and science by translating scientific data related to meteorology, ecology, and oceanography into woven sculptures and musical scores. Her main method of data translation is basket weaving, which serves as a tactile grid through which she interprets data into three-dimensional space. Central to her work is an exploration of the role that visual and musical aesthetics play in translating and understanding complex scientific systems, such as weather patterns and climate change.
The Floods by Nathalie Miebach (Source: Nathalie Miebach)
Currently serving as an Artist in Residence at the University of Virginia’s School of Data Science, Miebach continues to push the boundaries of interdisciplinary collaboration. Her unique artistic practice not only bridges the gap between artistic expression and scientific inquiry but also fosters a deeper appreciation for the ways in which art can make complex data more accessible and engaging.
Featured Image: Photograph of Nathalie Miebach from TED Talks
Petya Stefanoff, Chair of the Educational Committee with the American Planning Association, Oklahoma Chapter (APA-OK) and Gibbs College PhD candidate, has developed a new training program for local government officials. The program, focused on land use, zoning principles, and land development, recently certified its first graduates with Certified Citizen Planner status.
Gibbs Construction Science and Architecture students recently traveled to Dublin, Ireland, to compete in the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Region 8 Student Competition. The team partnered with Czech Technical University and secured third place in the Design-Build category.
Gibbs College is pleased to present the exhibition Vollendorf in Oklahoma: The Architecture of Dean Bryant Vollendorf during the Spring 2026 semester. It will be on display in Gould Hall, on the OU-Norman Campus, from February 16, 2026 - March 13, 2026.
