Episode 56: The Interplay of Science and Art with Dr. Ahna Skop (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

<p>For episode 56 of 17 Minutes of Science we are joined by Dr. Ahna Skop, a Professor of Genetics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to talk about how art and science intersect and why an interdisciplinary approach to the two subjects can be beneficial.&nbsp;</p> <p>Ahna Skop is a geneticist, artist, author, and a winner of the prestigious Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). Her lab seeks to understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie cell division during embryonic development using the nematode, C. elegans as a model system. Failures in cell division often lead to birth defects, cancer, and age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Understanding how cells divide is highly dependent on in vivo microscopy and large amounts of visual data, which dovetails perfectly with one of her other passions, art.&nbsp;</p> <p>Dr. Skop grew up surrounded by art – her father, Michael Skop, was a bit of a Renaissance man and was a classically trained fine artist who studied with Mestrovic (a pupil of Rodin) and also taught college-level anatomy. Her father operated an art school at their home studio for over 30 years and attracted artists, musicians, and philosophers from all over the world. Her mother was a high school art educator, ceramicist, and has dabbled in fiber art, sculpture and painting. Her two sisters and brother are also graphic and industrial designers. She has embraced her parents’ love of creativity in everything she does. She majored in biology and ceramics at Syracuse University (1990-1994), where her father had played football and studied with Mestrovic. She received her Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1994-2000) and conducted her post-doctoral work at UC-Berkeley (2000-2003).&nbsp;</p> <p>The combination of scientist and artist inspires Dr. Skop to think differently and maintain an open mind. Some of her work can be seen in the main entrance of the Genetics/Biotechnology Center building on the UW-Madison campus with a 40f