About Us, the Work, and Who It Supports
About us…
Sienna Cenere is a self-taught artist and scientific communicator with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Her distinctive style, known as Numberism, involves meticulously hand-engraving thousands of tiny numbers and equations to create detailed, data-driven artworks that reveal the hidden structures and relationships of the natural world. Each piece is composed of scientific information relevant to the subject’s form and function, bridging the gap between art, science, and public outreach. Sienna has collaborated with scientists, educators, and conservationists on interdisciplinary SciArt lectures, presentations, and publications both nationally and internationally. Through her work, she is dedicated to making scientific knowledge more accessible, emotionally resonant, and publicly engaged.
Dr. Amanda Grunwald is a postdoctoral researcher at the Field Museum of Natural History, where she leads an interdisciplinary project on how climate change is affecting bat populations in the Tropical Andes. Her research integrates genomics, museum collections, and biodiversity surveys to track long-term ecological change. Amanda is committed to inclusive education and uses partnerships with artists and outreach initiatives to bridge science, social justice, and public engagement.
Sienna and Amanda at the 2024 North American Symposium for Bat Research in Guadalajara, Mexico.
The work…
We are an interdisciplinary collaboration at the intersection of science, art, and conservation. Through scientific research and creative storytelling, we share these stories with public audiences through hand-drawn Numberism artwork, exhibitions, and SciArt talks. Our work bridges the gap between research, conservation action, and public understanding, making complex scientific issues visible, tangible, and emotionally resonant. By connecting people more deeply with the natural world, we aim to inspire action, support emerging conservation leaders, and advocate for greater equity in science.
Our current project will create a one-of-a-kind artwork that will be auctioned to benefit bat conservation. Profits will support the Small Mammal Conservation Organization (SMACON), co-directed by Dr. Iroro Tanshi. The organization’s community-led efforts in West Africa protect often-overlooked small mammals and promote ecosystem health. The artwork itself, rendered in Sienna’s signature Numberism style, uses numbers and equations to visualize the intimate relationship between bats and the flowers they pollinate, capturing the sensory cues, such as olfactory and visual, that underlie this ecological partnership.
This is the first in a larger initiative blending science and art to support conservation. Visit our Support Our Work page to support our upcoming research in the Tropical Andes and help us advance science communication through art.
Research & Analyses
Data & Design
Art & Storytelling
Outreach & Conservation
Who it supports…
Through our work, we aim to support conservation organizations, emerging researchers, and students, especially in regions where access to funding is limited. By auctioning original Numberism artworks, we are building a model where art directly fuels scientific research, conservation action, and equity in the sciences. Our current project will support SMACON in developing a new field station in Nigeria, a critical resource for empowering local scientists, engaging communities, and advancing biodiversity conservation. You can learn more about SMACON and the Numberism artwork being auctioned on our Auction page!