Atoms, molecules and enzymes: 3D and animation practices as a mechanism to visualise quantum theory

If you ask a person, ‘What does an atom look like?’ there are two visualisations they would most likely think of; the first resembles a solid ball with a hard surface (like a billiard ball), and the second is the Bohr Model, which depicts the structure of an atom as a planetary system. These two visualisations of the atom are ubiquitous, currently used to describe what an atom is and what an atom looks like. However, both of these representations of the atom are scientifically incorrect. Atoms are not planetary systems, nor are they solid balls. Representing them as such limits the communication of the atomic theory and the development of a deeper understanding of atoms. The purpose of this research is to develop a practice of scientifically accurate 3-dimensional models and an animation that explains the structure and behaviour of atoms during chemical reactions. In particular, the movement of electrons during the catalytic reaction of the enzyme human Aldehyde Oxidase. The animation is based on ongoing research by Laureate Professor Roger Smith AM and his team at the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) in Newcastle, Australia. This collaboration between an artist and a team of scientists brings a cross-disciplinary approach to molecular research. In addition, the study’s results contribute to a greater understanding of quantum mechanics when applied to biochemistry and medical research.