Indiana Jones—archeologist, adventurer, and scientific illustrator. At least, that is one of the tenets posited by Scott Rawlins, professor of Visual and Performing Arts, during a presentation on the incarnation of the scholar/explorer archetype during the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (GNSI) Annual Meeting at the The University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia from June 27 to July 9.

His presentation, “The Real Indiana Jones,” explored the work of scientific illustrators as it relates to the activities of archeology and discovery, and showcased examples of Rawlins’ artwork that has resulted from his own adventures around the world.

In addition to his presentation, Rawlins also hosted a discussion and workshop on using handmade polymer clay models of soft-bodied animals in scientific illustration. 

“Overall, the experience was very positive,” said Rawlins. “I met a number of illustrators from Australia and New Zealand for the first time, and the majority of the participants in my workshop were from these countries.”