Cosmic Missteps: Turning Research Failures into Art invites students and community members to rethink the role of mistakes in discovery. This interactive workshop explores how cosmic mysteries, mistaken assumptions, and shifting scientific perspectives spark creativity and innovation. By examining moments when scientific understanding changed course, participants will see how uncertainty can open the door to new ways of thinking.

Astrophysicist Paul Sell will share two stories centered on the challenge of interpreting cosmic imagery, including a well-known historical misinterpretation and his own research on the unusual stellar system Circinus X-1. These examples highlight how evolving perspectives and revised assumptions shape scientific progress.

Building on these insights, astro-artist Ash Wheeler will guide attendees in painting their own visual interpretation of a scientific story shaped by uncertainty and revision. No art experience is needed — just curiosity and a willingness to experiment with the creative possibilities that emerge from failure.