The Art of Science: Fashioning Cancer

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As a big proponent of showing your inner beauty by wearing your cells and microbes on the outside, I couldn’t help but be excited by this collection of ball gowns inspired by microscopic photos of cancer cells created by Jacqueline Firkins.

Firkins, a professor at the University of British Columbia in Canada, says, “Many women who have battled cancer express a disconnect with the fashion imagery that commonly represents the disease,” such as the ubiquitous pink ribbon for breast cancer awareness. Firkins hopes that her collection, titled Fashioning Cancer: The Correlation between Destruction and Beauty will encourage discussions about disease, body image and beauty.

The cell patterns on the dresses were inspired by images captured by researchers in the lab of UBC scientist Christian Naus.

“My hope is that somehow through fashion, I more closely tap into what a woman might be feeling about her body as she undergoes the disease, but simultaneously reflect a strength, beauty, and resilience,” says Firkins, who will use the collection to raise money for cancer research, patients and survivors.

A free public presentation and discussion of the Fashioning Cancer collection will take place March 25 at noon at UBC’s Frederic Wood Theatre. More information is here.

Photo by Tim Matheson via UBC News

The Travel of Tomorrow

Art by Steve Thomas

At ScienceOnline 2014, Eva and I encountered the folks from The Intergalactic Travel Bureau. They create a unique science education experience where folks get to plan their own getaway to the other planets in the Solar System – as well as some of the larger moons and dwarf planets.

I planned a trip (price tag >$3 billion) to the moons of Jupiter and sent postcards back to my kids.

They are looking to take The Intergalactic Travel Bureau on tour and need your help. Consider donating to their Kickstarter campaign. Do not be dissuaded by the fact that they have already met their goal. More donations just means they can expand the scope of the tour – and donating means you get to vote on where they show up.

Science Caturday: Say Ohai to Nanuqsaurus

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It’s always exciting when scientists discover a new dinosaur, especially if it’s a cute little one.  As Brian Switek reported in National Geographic’s Phenomena this week, paleontologists Anthony Fiorillo and Ronald Tykoski have named a smallish tyrannosaur that once lived in the Arctic.

The scientists gave the dino the name Nanuqsaurus hoglundi –combining the Iñupiaq word for polar bear and a philanthropist named Forrest Hoglund.  The incomplete skeleton unearthed in northern Alaska indicates that, although Nanuqsaurus was likely fairly closely related to Tyrannosaurus rex, it was much smaller, around 25 feet in length compared to 40 for a T. rex.

Perhaps the most astonishing aspect of the recent discovery: photographic evidence (above) indicates that some traits of Nanuqsaurus may have somehow veered from their branch of the phylogenetic tree and taken up residence in cats, rather than birds. We await further study.

Photo: Cheezburger.com

Liek Dinos? Brian Switek’s ossim book, My Beloved Brontosaurus, is just out in paperback. You can haz.

Opening for Biology Instructor at SCGSSM

The South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics, where the better half of my kids’ DNA teaches, is looking for a new Biology Instructor.

BIOLOGY INSTRUCTOR
Great teachers, students & environment = the S.C. Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics (GSSM). GSSM is growing and requires outstanding faculty in several disciplines to start by August 2014. For details, please visit www.scgssm.org.

As part of our expansion, we are seeking an exceptional Biology instructor. Applicants should have a Master’s degree, Ph.D. preferred, and a love of teaching. Desired qualifications include a strong content background in Biology and experience in teaching Biology at college or advanced high school levels, knowledge and application of technology, an understanding of gifted learners, enthusiasm for teaching motivated and talented high-school-aged students and an ability to advise students in the completion of senior research projects. General academic advising, committee meetings, student activity advising, and occasional evening/weekend commitments are a regular part of faculty responsibilities.

Current courses taught at GSSM at the college or university level include AP Biology, Molecular Biology, Vertebrate Biology, Human Anatomy and Physiology, Neuroscience, Advanced Genetics and Ornithology. GSSM encourages the introduction of new courses. Courses offered will vary each semester depending on the interests and expertise of instructors, and on student interest. GSSM offers a unique opportunity to teach these subjects, including weekly two to three hour labs.

This is a full-time (10-month) teaching position, with full benefits available. A public school teaching certificate is not required. Salary is competitive and commensurate with credentials, experience and unique capabilities.

GSSM offers a wonderful teaching environment with motivated and talented students in a residential setting and is recognized among the top public elite high schools in the nation. We are a statewide, public residential high school for 11th and 12th graders specializing in the advanced study of science and mathematics. Historically, GSSM has maintained a 10:1 student to faculty ratio. Nearly 80% of the faculty members have earned doctoral degrees. Over five years, our students’ SAT average is 2059.

Please apply electronically. Forward a cover letter, resume and teaching statement, along with the GSSM application available at www.scgssm.org/employment, prior to March 31, 2014.

Forward all materials to email address: GSSMPersonnel@gssm.k12.sc.us

Please include the word “Biology” in the subject line.

The S.C. GSSM is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The Art of Science: A Machine that Vends DNA Samples Like Candy Bars

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Gabe Baria-Colombo, DNA Vending Machine, 2013

Gabe Barcia-Colombo’ s DNA Vending Machine is an art installation blending the utterly mundane (a fairly primitive machine dispensing mostly crappy snack food) with the cutting-edge (DIY human genetics) to intriguing effect.

Barcia-Colombo, a 2012 TED fellow, collected DNA samples from a bunch of his friends using a basic swish-and-spit method. With the help of Oliver Medvedik of GenSpace, a community biotech lab in New York, he synthesized the samples in a liquid base.  Barcia-Colombo then created a pack-of-cards sized case for the vials and loaded them into a vending machine.

As the picture above indicates, the only labeling on the vials is a number.  Barcia-Colombo compares this to the concept of “blind box” collectible toys – sealed limited edition collectible figurines packaged randomly with many variations. As with human genetics, people have limited information on which to base their choices, and much depends on luck.

Each sample comes packaged with a collectable portrait of the human specimen as well as a unique link to a custom DNA extraction video. The DNA Vending Machine treats human DNA as a collectible material, exploring the question of who owns our DNA.  Can the person who bought a stranger’s DNA from a vending machine get it sequenced or potentially use it in other ways?

The DNA Vending Machine has been shown in several galleries, and the artist reports that many people have indeed bought the DNA samples. No word on what they’ve done with them – yet.

hat tip: DesignBoom