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Dr. Ruth Angus, an assistant curator and professor of astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History and an associate research scientist at the Flatiron Institute’s Center for Computational Astrophysics, was one of the consultants for "Double Helix." COURTESY BAY STREET THEATER
Dr. Heather Lynch, ecologist and explorer, takes part in a panel discussion on June 10 at Bay Street Theater. COURTESY BAY STREET THEATER
Dr. Krystal Airola, breast imaging radiologist, takes part in a panel discussion on June 10 at Bay Street Theater. COURTESY BAY STREET THEATER
Dr. Marina Astitha, environmental physicist, takes part in a panel discussion on June 10 at Bay Street Theater. COURTESY BAY STREET THEATER
Dr. Melanie Chui, synthetic chemist, takes part in a panel discussion on June 10 at Bay Street Theater. COURTESY BAY STREET THEATER
Science communications expert Lydia Franco-Hodges moderates a panel discussion on June 10 at Bay Street Theater. COURTESY BAY STREET THEATER
On Saturday, June 10, from 5 to 6 p.m., Bay Street Theater will host “Behind the Microscope: Today’s Women Pioneers in Science,” featuring a panel of distinguished female scientists who will discuss their challenges and accomplishments in their field. The free seminar will take place prior to the evening performance of “Double Helix,” which begins at 8 p.m.
The panel will include: Dr. Heather Lynch, ecologist and explorer; Dr. Krystal Airola, MD, breast imaging radiologist; Dr. Marina Astitha, environmental physicist; and Dr. Melanie Chui, synthetic chemist. The participants will discuss what has changed in the field since the 1950s, the era in which “Double Helix” is set, the hurdles they have overcome during the course of their careers, as well as their vision for the future of women working in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Medicine). The panel will be moderated by science communications expert Lydia Franco-Hodges
Over the years of development for “Double Helix,” the show’s creator Madeline Myers and director Scott Schwartz consulted specialists in their respective fields to achieve optimal scientific accuracy. They included: Dr. Sonya Hanson, Ph.D., research scientist at the Flatiron Institute whose work focuses on structural and molecular biophysics; Dr. Ruth Angus an assistant curator and professor of astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History and an associate research scientist at the Flatiron Institute’s Center for Computational Astrophysics; Dr. Gordon Chiu, an author, futurist, innovator and investor in health, wellness and science who has been granted over 40 patents across a wide array of scientific applications; and Dr. Michael Airola an assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology at Stony Brook University whose lab studies lipid metabolism.
“Rosalind Franklin was one of the most brilliant scientific minds of her generation. Creating a new musical about her life has required us to understand the work she did,” explained Schwartz. “We are very lucky to have worked with an amazing team of expert consultants to help ensure ‘Double Helix’ presents the science of DNA with truth and accuracy.”
For more information on “Behind the Microscope: Today’s Women Pioneers in Science,” a free panel discussion at 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 10, visit baystreet.org.
Staff Writer on Jun 6, 2023