Summer Conference 2011 Opening Plenary: Too Creative for Science: Ahna Skop

http://nmc.org

Society is increasingly asking questions of the scientific community that have not been asked
before. New boundaries are crossed, and scientists are required to visualize information in
fresh, creative ways. These visualizations push scientists ever closer to the domain of artist. The
intersection of science and art may be closer than many realize. How does thinking like an artist
benefit the scientist? How can the blending of art and science encourage a more creative approach
to research questions, persuade a more diverse student population to pursue science, and improve
the public's awareness of scientific matters? By supporting a closer relationship between art and
science, we see new possibilities while humanizing the practice of science.
Dr. Ahna Skop is an Assistant Professor of Genetics at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, an artist,
and a recipient of the prestigious Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers. Her
lab seeks to understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie cell polarity and cell division during
embryonic development, as failures in asymmetric cell division often lead to birth defects, age-related
diseases, and cancer. Ahna's work is highly dependent on in vivo microscopy and large amounts of
visual data, which dovetails perfectly with her other passion, creating art. Her projects can be seen in
the main entrance of the UW Genetics/Biotechnology Center. She curated and contributed to an exhibit
of scientific visualizations that travels nationally, and she has organized the bi-annual Worm Art Show
for the International C. elegans Meeting for the past 15 years. Ahna, who is part Cherokee, mentors
underrepresented high school and college students, encouraging them to pursue scientific careers. She
majored in biology and ceramics at Syracuse University, received her PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology
at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, and conducted her post-doctoral work at UC Berkeley.

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