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Testimonials

"Working at STAGE is definitely different from other cross-disciplinary projects on might work on, for its even greater diversity one might expect in a science project. Working with not only scientists but also artists allows me to look at science from a different angle. Collaborating with both science and non-science people allows us to appreciate and respect different perspectives, and design the documentary in a way that is acceptable to both groups. I've always believed in the importance of science communication. As a community, we should not limit the scope of knowledge which we have been gradually expanding in the past few centuries just to ourselves. Science communication is not about explaining science itself but about generating interest. We at STAGE are striving to do that." - Jason Chen, 3rd-year Molecular Engineering major

"STAGE has been a good experience for me to learn how to use video editing programs and improve my animation skills." - Sara Hoggatt, 1st-year Molecular Engineering major

"Working at STAGE has been quite a formative experience for me. I’ve worked on several artistic projects, but I had never approached the artistic process in the manner that STAGE does, that is, under the guidance of the scientific method. This has allowed for a productive intersection of various interests of mine, in that I’ve been able to approach new projects with an intellectual vigor that is not merely goal-oriented, while also maintaining a commitment to the concrete work I’ve been able to take part in. The very premise of STAGE--a group of artmakers housed in a science lab--allows for such rule-breaking dynamics that cannot easily be found elsewhere." - Brandon Murphy, 3rd-year Philosophy major

"The community of STAGE was such a valuable resource. I worked with students who started out with next to zero film experience as they learned how to create professional videos and trailers. The diversity of backgrounds is a foundational feature of STAGE. I would work with the biology and visual arts major for animation and afterwards meet up with the medieval studies and cinema expert to give feedback on a video draft. STAGE allowed me to incorporate so many aspects of my education–film, technology, research, and collaboration–into one experience." - Jode Sparks, 4th-year Cinema & Media Studies and Media Art & Design major

"I helped STAGE research the art, science, and technology interdisciplinary landscape. Prior to this, I had some experience conducting equity research for an RSO on campus in addition to doing a behavioral economics research project with a group at the University of Toronto. But, for me, the STAGE experience was different in that I had the opportunity to decide on the research approach that I wanted to take. Through this process, I not only discovered amazing cross-disciplinary initiatives such as bio art and computer music, but I was also able to learn from experts who were extremely passionate about these projects. I became more independent, open-minded, and receptive to new ideas that seem wild at first sight." - Judy Guo, 2nd-year Economics major

"Working with STAGE this summer has given me a refreshing perspective on science, and brought me outside of the physics bubble where I was. Learning how to communicate complex ideas to a wider audience forced me to really grapple with and understand the scientific concepts. I find physics beautiful, and I think I always have — that’s why I’m a scientist, after all! — but the interdisciplinary work I did this summer has helped me see the beauty of it in a new way. I feel good knowing that the work I’ve done here will eventually become art that people can be intrigued and inspired by." - Xiao-Ming Porter, MRSEC REU 3rd-year Physics major, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

"Working with STAGE has been an incredibly fulfilling experience. As someone who lives excitedly at the junction between art and science, and spends a good deal of time trying to convince peers from the respective specialized fields as to the power and value of interdisciplinary theatre-science connections, being welcomed into an environment that is directly fostering these connections, hosting these conversations, and undergoing these explorations has been a true gift for the heart and mind. The work happening at STAGE Lab is powerfully unique, beautifully collaborative, and utterly thrilling, and I am so grateful to have had the chance to partake in it." - Melody Munitz, 4th-year Musical Theater and Psychology major, Pennsylvania State University

"Prior to my internship, I had worked in several positions in which collaboration was central to our work, but the team at STAGE took the meaning of the word to a completely different level. Professionally, it has pushed me to think critically about my research and accept that there are no easy solutions to the problems we, as scientists and non-scientists, aim to solve. Personally, I have learned a tremendous amount from others who have specialized in other disciplines. From comparative literature to physics, the intellectual contributions my colleagues made were mesmerizing to hear. At STAGE, we embrace the process and the feeling of not knowing. As a philosopher who questions even the most intuitively known “facts,” I appreciated how we approached our work from an inquisitive standpoint and never outrightly dismissed even the most bizarre ideas." - Nathalie Martinez, Leadership Alliance SR-EIP 3rd-year Philosophy major, Hamilton College 

"As a person that is equally interested in the visual arts and sciences, STAGE gives me the opportunity to explore their intersections and interactions in a way that other groups have not been able to do. STAGE’s flexibility and research minded direction have given me the space to explore my own interests without a sense of boundary. Within STAGE, I’ve also gotten an opportunity to work with like minded students and gain a sense of how to manage and complete larger projects." - Nicole Zhong, 3rd-year Biology and Visual Arts major

"Collaborating with STAGE Lab is the first time I undertook researching into the human aspects of science and technology. I think working with STAGE has helped me broaden my outlook and analyze situations from different perspectives. My colleagues have been supportive and extremely fun to work and sound-board with, coming up with ideas with a lot of enthusiasm and giving each other room to develop good and compelling ideas. I have found that these discussions with the STAGE Lab have, in a lot of ways, contributed to improving my analytical and communication skills, which has shown up in other areas of my life as well. The freedom to explore obscure seeming leads is one of the best things that STAGE has given to me." - Sanskriti Chitransh, Maurer Lab Ph.D. candidate

"Scientists tend to forget that, at the end, they are human beings and their motivations, even to do science, can be found in their thoughts and their emotions. I expect that by having TA-ed in STAGE, I will not only have a wider set of skills contributing to natural science academia, but also in explaining new ideas. This is essential for scientists, given that we are constantly producing never seen before lore. Breaking a paradigm and creating new knowledge is how science works and this would not be possible without great communication skills. Therefore, it becomes essential that scientists explain these new ideas in an accessible way for all type of audiences." - Jonathan Salmerón-Hernández, de Pablo Group Ph.D. candidate

>"Interaction with the STAGE team has been a great sharing and learning experience. Here, I got an opportunity to discuss the river pollution problem in its entirety—including human society, as an inseparable part of the river ecosystem. We discussed the intricate relationship among economy, culture, social stratification, and river health in length in interactive sessions. These interactions provided me with the opportunity to put forth the nuance of the worldviews of studied communities. It also helped me to learn and present complex theoretical ideas in a more grasping and straightforward way." - Dr. Nutan Maurya, Social Research Collaborator Water-to-Cloud (W2C) and The River Project Collaborator

"Being a theatre enthusiast who also studied a lot of science uptil college, what intrigued me about STAGE was the dovetailing of science and theatre. Writing stories that take a scientific work to a wider reach while keeping the essence of performance arts- heartwarming characters, enthralling sequences of tragedy, humor, etc., is a very interesting challenge. In my short association with STAGE, all of which has happened through Zoom meetings, I can vouch for the meticulous process of improvisation and character work that they follow. The work environment they have created in these sessions is one of utmost compassion and cooperation, one that is built on a deep understanding and love for theatre." - Eshu Sharma, Kraftshala co-founder and The River Project Collaborator

"Working with STAGE has been an excellent opportunity to indulge my joint passions for science and art. It's like doing all the best parts of research, creative work, and just wondering about cool stuff, wrapped up into one. Each discussion for the theatre projects that I'm a part of is an exciting, creative environment for brainstorming and talking to other people who care about science and art the way I do. I'm always looking forward to seeing what we do next." - Caroline Sullivan, MAPH - Comparative Literature

"I have absolutely loved my time with STAGE so far: this project is both academically meaningful, through its focus on environmental science and climate change, and personally meaningful, as it has allowed me to learn about and explore my own cultural heritage and identity." - Indira Khera, 3rd-year Biology and Creative Writing major

"STAGE is the most interdisciplinary lab I've encountered at UChicago. We have animators, biologists, actors, neuroscientists... I've learned about so many different forms of art and realized how talented people at UChicago are. I love being able to contribute to the lab with my STEM background." - Sophia Horowicz, 3rd-year Neuroscience major

"STAGE allowed me to work on a large-scale documentary, helping hone ever-essential skills of editing, and building a compelling narrative. More personally, the collaborative environment at STAGE exceeded my expectations, because it allowed me the chance to interact with incredibly talented students I had never had the fortune of meeting. From animators to musicians to scientists to filmmakers, the incredible diversity of approaches in the room taught me as much, if not more, about my own domains and viewpoints, as I learnt about other perspectives and opinions." - Atman Mehta, 4th-year Political Science major

"My experience at STAGE has been incredibly insightful, engaging, and enjoyable. I have had genuinely felt like an involved and valued member of the STAGE lab team and I feel comfortable enough in our meetings to propose my ideas and provide/receive critical feedback. What made STAGE truly unique was the style in which I learned to edit, construct, and evaluate scenes for our ongoing documentary series Curiosity." - Sam Casale, 3rd-year Psychology and Cinema & Media Studies major

"While I'd worked on video projects before, Curiosity was a rare opportunity to combine documentary, storytelling, science, and teamwork together. I found the collaborative nature of working at STAGE to be especially enriching. My colleagues were trained in a wide range of fields, and it was refreshing to witness how they used their knowledge to fuel creativity. The team story and feedback sessions have prepared me to enter into the animated film world with greater skill and confidence." - Kayla Keener, 4th-year Mathematics and Visual Arts major

"Working on Curiosity: the Making of a Scientist with the STAGE lab team has been an awesome experience. As a Biology major, this project has been my creative outlet. In addition to the technical film editing skills I have acquired, I have learned how to compose a compelling story, develop a strong narrative arch for character, communicate scientific principles, and collaborate with a diverse team. The group is fun, driven, and supportive and I am so happy to be a part of this community on campus." - Marti Gendel, 3rd-year Biology major

"Working at STAGE helped me in many ways become more comfortable with my inherent interests in science and art and how they may fit or complement/be complemented by that of others’. It helped me develop the courage to reach out to peers and faculty without being apologetic for my reasonings. On a more practical standpoint, it also introduced me to many different and useful professional platforms, helping me combat my irrational fear of having to learn something new on my own through tutorials or through trial and error." - Livia Guttieres, 1st-year Physics and Mathematics major

"STAGE was one of the best, most fulfilling summers I've had as a student. As a double major in theater and physics, I am always trying to explore the ways that theater and science talk to each other. STAGE tries to discuss this relationship by showing that the world of science and scientists is truly dramatic, and that the concepts (quantum physics, DNA folding, motion capture) used in scientific discussion provide strong metaphors for human behavior and action. STAGE is like nothing I ever did-- it truly strove to be wholly interdisciplinary which is difficult in our current academic environment of extreme specialization." - Madeleine Kerr, MRSEC REU 3rd-year Physics and Theater major, Harvey Mudd College 

"As a recent graduate from the University of Chicago and an even more recent employee of STAGE Lab, I will just say STAGE Lab is the weirdest, most original, most amazing place I've ever worked. There is no business structured like STAGE, no mentors as dedicated as at STAGE. All in all, STAGE was vital to my development as a filmmaker, a student, and, most basically, as a person." - Hannah Iafrati, BA Cinema & Media Studies

"I had no filmmaking experience before starting my internship with STAGE Lab and had never worked on such an extensive creative project. Although I have no plans to pursue documentary filmmaking in the future, my work on Curiosity was deeply interesting and motivated me to think creatively. I plan to pursue work in academic writing, and the relentless trial and error helped show me that creating a compelling work (whether film or writing) demands constant failure and rethinking. The collaborative nature of Curiosity helped me listen and respond to others constructively. My fellow colleagues challenged me constantly to think differently. Curiosity made me realize that my work was better when it was created with another person who had their own perspective and motivations." - Patrick Doyle, 4th-year Philosophy major 

"Engaging in the Curiosity project, while simultaneously completing my major, I think the two projects can act in a cooperative relationship with each other. I can bring the knowledge or methods that I learn from one into the other. In this way, the Curiosity project has already and will continue to clarify my specific interests in how I approach seeking and digesting knowledge." - Teis Jayaswal, 2nd-year Fundamentals major

"Through my experiences with filming and editing, I have discovered my aesthetic and style in filmmaking, and I am excited to continue exploring my voice as a writer and filmmaker. Curiosity has been a crucial stepping-stone in my creative path and I am excited to see the project expand with new members. Curiosity is, without a doubt, the most important project I've worked on in my time at UChicago and I am glad that other students will have the opportunity to participate in such a worthwhile endeavor." - Moyosore Abiona, 4th-year English Language & Literature major

"Working on Curiosity has guided me to hone a process which combines technical preparation with an openness to serendipity, and which demands narrative cohesion while supporting all sorts of exploration. Curiosity has helped me navigate a unique nexus of collaboration and bold discovery, of focused vision and flexible iteration. The process we’ve shaped has been integral to numerous film projects and academic work, and I’m sure it will serve my upcoming thesis and future endeavors. And in the face of life after college, how I’ve grown through Curiosity has perhaps even helped me feel not scared but excited, enthralled, for the uncertainties of a career in film and the grounded improvisation that lies ahead." - Ellen Askey, 4th-year Cinema & Media Studies major

"Many times across campus I hear from undergraduates in STEM that they 'don’t do essays,' yet from the work we will show through our projects, it is evident that scientific research involves a fair amount of creativity, the same creativity many of my peers think they are denied or lack. There’s a unity between disciplines being shown here within the lives of the people we explore, which I care greatly about, and I believe my involvement with STAGE only excites me in learning even more and continuing to discover and utilize elements from the usually separated fields of STEM and humanities." - Christopher Chavez, 4th-year Anthropology and Neuroscience major

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