Hi

I'm Qifeng 齐风

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I love thinking, and I love ideas. But an idea isn’t fully formed until it can be expressed, in some form, with precision. That’s why I care not only about what we think and how we think, but also about how we communicate those thoughts.

Science offers an elegant way to describe the intricate yet simple rules governing our complex world—even the entire universe—which is why I study cosmology. Language, as one of the most powerful tools for expressing ideas, even being called as "the boundary of ideas", makes communication matter deeply to me. Furthermore, exploring interdisciplinary collaboration and communication allows me to push the limits of language, expanding how we convey ideas. But some thoughts resist both scientific equations and words. That’s where art comes in—it allows me to express the subtle, inexpressible aspects of my thinking that neither science nor language can fully capture.

Altogether, they shape my thoughts, my ideas, and ultimately, who I am.

My work

Wanders in Cosmology 🔭 I’m endlessly curious about the universe and how it's beautifully expressed in scientific equations. This curiosity fuels my PhD research at Duke, where I explore how humans understand and query the unknown in a scientific way. Besides, I also view telescopes as extensions of our sensory system.
Art Realm homepage 🎨 I see art as a form of expression and communication. My work bridges art, science, and technology, exploring how man-made sensors extend our perception and how these tools shape human creativity. I hope to find a translation between sensors and our own sensory system. My recent art piece: Sensing the Invisible - Breathing Life into the Universe
My Film Photography Portfolio Photography helps me notice the subtle details of life, relationships, and love, and reflect on my interactions with the world around me.
Interdisciplinary Student Group homepage 🌟 I co-founded and lead BRIDGErs, an interdisciplinary group dedicated to fostering connections across diverse fields through the power of human community.

Why such diversity in my work?

This is something I've recently come to understand. I used to simply follow my cravings for these diverse projects, but now I realize they all stem from one core question: What distinguishes us as humans from machines, especially in the era of AI?

Here’s what I’ve found so far:

Our Sensory System: Unlike machines, we have a complex sensory system that shapes our consciousness and intelligence. While machines can have sensors, how do these compare to our innate human experiences?
Tool-Making: Humans create tools to overcome sensory limitations, like telescopes that allow us to see beyond our natural capabilities.
Human Collaboration: Unlike machines, human collaboration is messy and inefficient—yet it leads to extraordinary outcomes. Why is that?

How they go into my diverse work:

Cosmology Research: I study how humans seek to understand the unknown and question what roles humans should play in research alongside AI. Telescopes, to me, are not just scientific instruments but extensions of our sensory reach.

Interdisciplinary Club: Human collaboration, though often inefficient compared to machines, creates unique, irreplaceable outcomes. I want to understand why it’s challenging and how these inefficiencies contribute to remarkable achievements.

Art Projects: I explore how our sensory systems contribute to intelligence and creativity. While machines can use data from sensors, they don't yet integrate this information in the same intuitive, emotional ways that humans do. My art investigates how man-made sensors help us perceive beyond our biological limits, much like telescopes expand our vision.

At the heart of everything I do is a desire to explore the space between humans and machines—to understand both, and to create meaningful conversations between them.

Public Outreach Efforts

Public Engagement & Science Communication

My outreach work connects astronomy, data, and creative expression—bringing the invisible structures of the universe into tangible, human experience. Through talks, interactive installations, and collaborations with museums, I invite public audiences to see, feel, and question how scientific data shapes our understanding of the cosmos.

Boston Museum of Science — Harvesting a Star

On-stage presentation and interactive demo

In September 2025, I presented Harvesting a Star at the Boston Museum of Science, introducing how perception, light, and motion can transform astronomical data into embodied experience.
The session combined a live talk with hands-on demo activities, allowing visitors to experiment with interactive models and explore the boundaries between observation and imagination.

[See project details →](Harvest a star)

Photo Highlights

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Connecting science and people: Standing beneath the Museum’s giant Earth installation just before my presentation — a moment of quiet anticipation before sharing how art and astronomy can meet on stage.

Full view of the presentation stage with audience filling the open floor space — **Open public presentation:** The talk was delivered on the Museum’s open science stage, attracting a full-capacity audience from across multiple floors. Visitors gathered around, filling the space and engaging deeply throughout the session.

Presenter explaining concept with visual backdrop of star imagery — **Dynamic storytelling:** Introducing the idea of “Harvesting a Star” — using everyday metaphors and visuals to bridge abstract astrophysical concepts with tangible experience.

Audience members leaning forward and responding during presentation — **Audience engagement:** Visitors of all ages participated with curiosity and laughter, showing how creative framing and open dialogue can make complex science approachable.

Interactive demo station with visitors exploring materials — **Interactive demo space:** Besides the talk, participants joined the hands-on demo area where artistic and scientific tools invited tactile exploration of light, perception, and data.

Children and adults gathered around demo setup — **Public engagement in action:** Continuous waves of museum-goers stopped to participate, reflecting how accessible design and storytelling can sustain audience interest and connection.

Close-up of hands-on materials used in demo — **Exploring details:** The demo integrated art materials and sensors to let visitors intuitively connect physical gestures with cosmic imagery—linking human perception to astronomical processes.

Wide view of demo station setup with multiple tables — **Behind the setup:** The *Harvesting a Star* demo activity featured multiple interactive stations blending code, electronics, and sensory materials, encouraging discovery through play and conversation.

Astronomy Days — North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

Art–Science installation and public dialogue

At the annual Astronomy Days festival in February 2025, I showcased a demo for interactive installation merging space-data visualization with creative interpretation.
The exhibit invited participants to explore how scientific imagery can be re-imagined through sensory and emotional design—bridging the gap between analytical insight and artistic wonder.

Through open conversations, families and visitors reflected on how space exploration can inspire both scientific curiosity and personal connection.

[See project details →](Sensing the Invisible - Breathing Life into the Universe)

Presenter smiling behind demo table displaying Sensing the Invisible artwork — **Inviting curiosity:** Welcoming visitors to explore *Sensing the Invisible* — blending cosmic imagery, data translation, and sensory design. The lively conversations that followed made this one of the most engaging outreach experiences yet.

Visitors interacting with installation guided by presenter — **Interactive discovery:** Sharing how sound, color, and motion can express hidden astronomical patterns. Visitors experimented with the setup, asked thoughtful questions, and offered creative interpretations in return.

Presenter engaging with multiple visitors at demo table — **Community dialogue:** Connecting with families, students, and educators throughout the day — every exchange brought fresh insight and feedback about how art can make astrophysics more relatable and human.

Publication and conference presentation — Sensing the Invisible: Breathing Life into the Universe

Exploring sensory translation of astrophysical data

This collaborative paper investigates how astronomical data can be transformed into multisensory artworks, integrating visualization, sound, and embodied interaction.
It reflects on design methodologies that make complex scientific systems perceptible through art and experience.

The project was presented at Expressive 2025 + WICED 2025, a joint international conference bringing together researchers, designers, and artists across technology, science, and creative disciplines.
During the presentation, I shared how data-driven art can deepen emotional and conceptual engagement with astrophysical phenomena, sparking dialogue among an interdisciplinary audience.

Read the paper or abstract →
Read more about the project →

Presenter standing beside poster display of Sensing the Invisible series at conference — **Expressive 2025 + WICED 2025 presentation:** Presenting *Sensing the Invisible: Breathing Life into the Universe* to an interdisciplinary audience spanning art, design, science, and technology. The session invited dialogue on how data interpretation, embodiment, and visualization can merge into new forms of scientific storytelling.

Connecting Science and Imagination

Across these efforts, my goal is to translate research into experiences—making discovery feel accessible and alive.
Whether through public talks, museum installations, or creative publications, I aim to foster a shared curiosity about how we sense and understand the universe around us.

[→ Continue reading →](Public Outreach)

Introduction Flyer and Stay in Touch!

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