Carleton PhD students attempted to explain their theses differently by taking part in this year’s Dance Your PhD competition.
Carleton professor Maria DeRosa said this is the second year her students have competed in the international contest for Science magazine.
One of the graduate students saw the contest last year and sent an email to everyone that we should enter, DeRosa said via email. “I thought it was a great idea and they did an amazing job. We won the whole contest last year and were finalists this year.”
The students had to submit a short video of their PhD projects explained in the form of dance.
Carleton PhD student Erin McConnell was one of the finalists in this year’s competition. Her study looks at increased levels of dopamine in a rat’s brain. In humans, higher levels of dopamine can be linked to mental health diseases like schizophrenia, according to a university press release.
McConnell’s project looks into the development of DNA aptamers — specialized compounds that bind to specific target molecules in order to change the way they function — that may be used to diagnose and treat mental health disease.
“Administering an aptamer that binds to dopamine blocks the action of extra dopamine so that it cannot affect the brain. With the aptamer present, the rats think and behave normally again,” the release stated.
Before starting choreography, McConnell said she had to think about how to explain the project to someone who knew nothing about it.
In one evening, the group planned the choreography, and on another night they filmed the project with current and fun music, McConnell said.
“Half of the dancers were from [DeRosa’s] lab and the rest of them are Carleton alumni and classmates of mine at the Katharine Robinson School of Highland Dancing,” she said.
“They saw the video from last year and were really excited to be involved this year.”
The contest is judged by scientists, dancers, and winners from previous years, McConnell said. The dances were judged on ability to explain and portray science and creativity.
Queen's University biologist Emma Ware was the only Canadian of the four contest winners.
DeRosa said it’s important for researchers “to be able to communicate their ideas to the general public.”
“Without that skill, it will be difficult to get research funding, etc . . .” she said.
“I think it is great to hear about complex and exciting research ideas in a way that is accessible and enjoyable for everyday people,” DeRosa said.
