West Chester University Hosts TEDx Event, Bringing Together Science, Art, and the Human Experience
What started as a casual conversation between a West Chester University student and one of her favorite advisors turned into a full blown TEDx event this spring that brought science and art together. TEDx programs are smaller, more locally focused offshoots of an official TED conference, where audiences gather to hear experts speak passionately on stage for a limited amount of time.
Now an alumna, Alexandra Gianaris ’25 teamed with WCU associate biology professor Dr. Jessica Sullivan-Brown to bring the event to life. The idea of exploring the intersection of science and art was personal to Gianaris, who started her collegiate career in technical theatre but graduated with a biology degree.
Dr. Sullivan-Brown loved the idea of a TEDx but didn’t know how to approach stage production. Thankfully, Gianaris did, Dr. Sullivan-Brown told the audience of about 100 people before bringing Gianaris to the stage to thank her for her vision and passion.
WCU Dean of the College of the Sciences and Mathematics Dr. Jessica OShaughnessy gave welcoming remarks where she said the event truly represented the core commitments of the College of the Sciences and Mathematics (CSM).
“Having an event that discusses the world around us and connects the science to other fields such as the arts is critical to advancing knowledge and seeking solutions to challenges in our world,” she said. “Building community allows us to open the doors of learning for more people.”
From there, eight speakers took the stage and spoke about a myriad of topics: public gardens and loneliness, ant colonies and motherhood, sharing flatworms with colleagues, and many others. Each speaker intertwined a complex idea with a personal, human connection.
The first speaker was Jessica Turner-Skoff, associate director of science communications at Longwood Gardens, who advocated that public gardens offer a powerful antidote to what she described as a national crisis of connection.
“The loneliest place in the world isn’t in the wilderness,” she said. “It’s the space created when we lose connection between ourselves, others, and the natural world.”
Five speakers represented WCU, including four professors and one student. They were:
- Dance Professor Maria Urrutia
- Biology Professor Dr. Oné R. Pagán
- Costume Technology and Design Professor Constance Case
- Assistant Biology Professor Dr. Manuela Ramalho
- Cell and Molecular Biology (Pre-Med) student Sakina Zaidi
Zaidi closed the program with a presentation on the unexpected parallels between calligraphy and the microscopic architecture of the human body.
“Science and our bodies aren’t as rigid as we make them out to be,” she said. “It just takes some close, detailed examination to truly witness the art that is science.”
The event was sponsored by the CSM Student and Community Engagement Award and supported by faculty, students, and production staff from across the WCU community. It can be viewed online at the WCUofPA Digital Media Center YouTube channel.