| The Story of the Paralaxita Logo | |||||
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The face of this site is often an enigma to many of those who bear witness to it. Friends and family have been confused on what the logo is supposed to be, endearingly referring to it "abstract," or the "face of an alien," and I've received emails asking what such an odd shape is supposed to represent. However, among the entomological community, what seems to be a mere abstract shape becomes more of a familiar one to those invested in insect neuroanatomy!
To answer the question:The Paralaxita logo is a mosaic representation of a statistical shape model (SSM) of the brain of Apis mellifera, the European honey bee. A statistical shape model, when used in entomology, is a mathematical computer process used to create a 3D model of anatomical parts, especially neurological organs, utilizing an array of micro-CT scanning, high-field MRI scanning, and electron microscopy. The scans are usually processed afterwards to colourize certain regions within the model, such as, for example, the lobes and distinct limbic structures of the brain.While it's quite a complex shape for a logo, it's a unique shape that stands out with satisfying colour gradients and is a good representation of Paralaxita as a whole, symbolizing its purpose of the education and research of entomology. Since this website is tailored to be approachable for newcomers but also useful for professionals, using such niche and complex imagery of the brain of a very well-known insect would also cleverly reflect this aspect of the project's scope. |
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