Grabel Awarded Grant from Arts Council of Greater New Haven

Laura Grabel, the Lauren B. Dachs Professor of Science and Society, professor of biology, received a grant worth $10,000 from the Arts Council of Greater New Haven on Dec. 14, 2012. The award will support a project titled “Reintegrate,” an interactive, multi-media performance piece that will explore stems cells and the ethical implications of stem cell research.

The piece will investigate personal meaning and the power of metaphor in science and art. Particular focus will be placed on how individuals bring their full thoughtful and emotional selves to both scientific exploration and artistic creation.

“In the science classroom at Wesleyan, we have been experimenting with allowing students to bring emotion to their biology subject matter. This may be a jarring concept for the traditional scientist or science student, but there is a long tradition of scientists expressing affection for their work and recognizing its inherent beauty,” Grabel wrote in the “Reintegrate” proposal.

Students from Wesleyan, Arizona State and New Haven High School will contribute to the project.