| An Extraordinary Dance of Science – “Dance Your Ph.D.” Performance at the AAAS Conference in Chicago |
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bridges vol. 21, April 2009 / Noteworthy Information By Victoria Minnich Amidst the usual "dance routines" of plenary speakers, panel sessions, and meetings at the American Association for the Advancement of
Performance of the scientists' winning entries in an international, YouTube-distributed "Dance Your Ph.D." contest was the brainchild of Gonzo Scientist John Bohannon. In the spirit of breaking down the stereotype of university researchers as secluded lab rats, Science Magazine's contributing correspondent Bohannon challenged the academic community to metaphorically translate their Ph.D. dissertations using their own bodies, and to communicate their discoveries through the less-constrained medium of dance. The four winning scientists, who were selected by a panel of Harvard professors and Pilobolus artistic directors, worked closely with the dance company for a week. The end result was an unforgettable spectacle of "This is Science," which engaged the audience in comparing the original choreographies with the wildly interpretive representations by Pilobolus. Although the professional dancers outperformed the scientists in the realms of agility and grace, the academics deserved credit for being more metaphorically attuned to the nuances of their research. Access to the full article is free, but requires you to register. Registration is simple and quick – all we need is your name and a valid e-mail address. We appreciate your interest in bridges. |
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