What do kimonos have to do with DNA replication? How does playwriting mirror the scientific process? Though science and art are often regarded as distinct subjects, Nancy proposes a different view: science and art have more in common than one thinks, and the combination of the two can help the general public understand unfamiliar scientific concepts.

Nancy Kawalek, an artist and innovator specializing in the creation and development of theatre inspired by science and technology, is a Professor and Distinguished Fellow in the Arts, Sciences and Technology at The University of Chicago Institute for Molecular Engineering. She is the founder and director of STAGE: Scientists, Technologists and Artists Generating Exploration—a laboratory for devising multimedia theatre pieces in which science and technology play prominent roles in content and form.
Nancy is also a professional New York theatre-trained actor whose credits include Strider on Broadway, and several leading roles Off-Broadway, such as the one-woman show Alice Without, which she co-wrote. She conceived and directed the opening events for the 100th anniversary of the Solvay Conferences in Physics, as well as the Nobel Week 2013 Festivities: casting and directing Nobel Laureates David Gross and Alan Heeger, and Olivier Award-winning British actor Fiona Shaw, in a stage

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx