my name is Walker Rose and I’m a scientist and I want to share with you a
scientist and I want to share with you a
scientist and I want to share with you a brief story about how I was able to
brief story about how I was able to
brief story about how I was able to connect some different perspectives in
connect some different perspectives in
connect some different perspectives in my life unexpectedly those two
my life unexpectedly those two
my life unexpectedly those two perspectives that I was able to connect
perspectives that I was able to connect
perspectives that I was able to connect our art and science so I know that for
our art and science so I know that for
our art and science so I know that for many of us
many of us
many of us art and science seem to live in very
art and science seem to live in very
art and science seem to live in very different domains like one driven by
different domains like one driven by
different domains like one driven by data and facts and the other driven
data and facts and the other driven
data and facts and the other driven purely by human emotions the science
purely by human emotions the science
purely by human emotions the science carried out by DRI introverts and on the
carried out by DRI introverts and on the
carried out by DRI introverts and on the other side we have expressive eccentrics
other side we have expressive eccentrics
other side we have expressive eccentrics but maybe these are just stereotypes
but maybe these are just stereotypes
but maybe these are just stereotypes maybe art and science has a lot in
maybe art and science has a lot in
maybe art and science has a lot in common and this is my story I didn’t see
common and this is my story I didn’t see
common and this is my story I didn’t see that
that
that art and science would have anything in
art and science would have anything in
art and science would have anything in common as a scientist however the truth
common as a scientist however the truth
common as a scientist however the truth is that art and science share a lot the
is that art and science share a lot the
is that art and science share a lot the artist studio and the scientist
artist studio and the scientist
artist studio and the scientist laboratory are actually great places in
laboratory are actually great places in
laboratory are actually great places in which we try to answer the big questions
which we try to answer the big questions
which we try to answer the big questions in our life questions like where are we
in our life questions like where are we
in our life questions like where are we coming from or how does the world around
coming from or how does the world around
coming from or how does the world around us work and how can we make it work for
us work and how can we make it work for
us work and how can we make it work for us and for the best in our society or a
us and for the best in our society or a
us and for the best in our society or a big question about where are we going
big question about where are we going
big question about where are we going all this our defining questions in both
all this our defining questions in both
all this our defining questions in both in art as well as in science
in art as well as in science
in art as well as in science now I was trained as a scientist and my
now I was trained as a scientist and my
now I was trained as a scientist and my expertise lies in the area of the study
expertise lies in the area of the study
expertise lies in the area of the study of very small structures so-called nano
of very small structures so-called nano
of very small structures so-called nano scale materials these are materials at
scale materials these are materials at
scale materials these are materials at the length scale of just a few atoms or
the length scale of just a few atoms or
the length scale of just a few atoms or molecules and in my research I utilize
molecules and in my research I utilize
molecules and in my research I utilize the Advanced Photon Source which is a
the Advanced Photon Source which is a
the Advanced Photon Source which is a big facility that produces either bright
big facility that produces either bright
big facility that produces either bright x-rays now there are more than 5,000
x-rays now there are more than 5,000
x-rays now there are more than 5,000 scientists that come to this facility
scientists that come to this facility
scientists that come to this facility the Advanced Photon Source every year to
the Advanced Photon Source every year to
the Advanced Photon Source every year to study problems in almost every area of
study problems in almost every area of
study problems in almost every area of science from biology to physics and
science from biology to physics and
science from biology to physics and chemistry environmental science and so
chemistry environmental science and so
chemistry environmental science and so on and so forth and the problems the
on and so forth and the problems the
on and so forth and the problems the scientists bring with them and the
scientists bring with them and the
scientists bring with them and the answers they gain from their experiments
answers they gain from their experiments
answers they gain from their experiments have real impact on our technologies on
have real impact on our technologies on
have real impact on our technologies on our health on our prosperity and of
our health on our prosperity and of
our health on our prosperity and of course on our fundamental understanding
course on our fundamental understanding
course on our fundamental understanding of the world around us now I used to
of the world around us now I used to
of the world around us now I used to live
live
live purely in this domain being a scientist
purely in this domain being a scientist
purely in this domain being a scientist studying things at the smallest length
studying things at the smallest length
studying things at the smallest length scale but there was one defining moment
scale but there was one defining moment
scale but there was one defining moment in my life and I’m gonna share this
in my life and I’m gonna share this
in my life and I’m gonna share this story with you it all started with a
story with you it all started with a
story with you it all started with a student his name was Gerald a couple of
student his name was Gerald a couple of
student his name was Gerald a couple of years back we were in the laboratory
years back we were in the laboratory
years back we were in the laboratory trying to find the next material for
trying to find the next material for
trying to find the next material for advanced data storage now I remember it
advanced data storage now I remember it
advanced data storage now I remember it was a dark night it was fall it was
was a dark night it was fall it was
was a dark night it was fall it was chilly outside already we were in the
chilly outside already we were in the
chilly outside already we were in the laboratory at the Advanced Photon Source
laboratory at the Advanced Photon Source
laboratory at the Advanced Photon Source setting up our experiment this takes
setting up our experiment this takes
setting up our experiment this takes quite some time you have to be patient
quite some time you have to be patient
quite some time you have to be patient as a scientist but once everything is
as a scientist but once everything is
as a scientist but once everything is set up and aligned eventually you press
set up and aligned eventually you press
set up and aligned eventually you press a button that the measurement starts now
a button that the measurement starts now
a button that the measurement starts now since we were spending that night in the
since we were spending that night in the
since we were spending that night in the laboratory we started talking about all
laboratory we started talking about all
laboratory we started talking about all kinds of things while the measurements
kinds of things while the measurements
kinds of things while the measurements were running we
were running we
were running we important things in life like where do I
important things in life like where do I
important things in life like where do I get good burgers or even more powerful
get good burgers or even more powerful
get good burgers or even more powerful here in Chicago which is the better
here in Chicago which is the better
here in Chicago which is the better baseball team well at some point we
baseball team well at some point we
baseball team well at some point we changed a little bit and it got personal
changed a little bit and it got personal
changed a little bit and it got personal and Gerald told me well I just met this
and Gerald told me well I just met this
and Gerald told me well I just met this beautiful girl by the name gran and I
beautiful girl by the name gran and I
beautiful girl by the name gran and I fell deeply in love and I thought well
fell deeply in love and I thought well
fell deeply in love and I thought well this is really interesting but it
this is really interesting but it
this is really interesting but it wouldn’t have changed my life to be
wouldn’t have changed my life to be
wouldn’t have changed my life to be honest but then he continued and told me
honest but then he continued and told me
honest but then he continued and told me that Gwen was a postdoctoral researcher
that Gwen was a postdoctoral researcher
that Gwen was a postdoctoral researcher at the Art Institute in Chicago and they
at the Art Institute in Chicago and they
at the Art Institute in Chicago and they were working on a project where they try
were working on a project where they try
were working on a project where they try to understand what kind of paint Pablo
to understand what kind of paint Pablo
to understand what kind of paint Pablo Picasso had used in some of the art work
Picasso had used in some of the art work
Picasso had used in some of the art work and here we go this was the defining
and here we go this was the defining
and here we go this was the defining moment in my life because all in a
moment in my life because all in a
moment in my life because all in a sudden I realized beside the love story
sudden I realized beside the love story
sudden I realized beside the love story that all my expertise that I had gained
that all my expertise that I had gained
that all my expertise that I had gained that a scientist could be helpful to
that a scientist could be helpful to
that a scientist could be helpful to answer a question in cultural heritage
answer a question in cultural heritage
answer a question in cultural heritage and here we go the next day I made
and here we go the next day I made
and here we go the next day I made connection to Francesca Cassidy from the
connection to Francesca Cassidy from the
connection to Francesca Cassidy from the Art Institute and he started a study on
Art Institute and he started a study on
Art Institute and he started a study on Picasso paints now it was thought for a
Picasso paints now it was thought for a
Picasso paints now it was thought for a long time that Pablo Picasso was
long time that Pablo Picasso was
long time that Pablo Picasso was actually one of the first artists using
actually one of the first artists using
actually one of the first artists using conventional cheap house paint instead
conventional cheap house paint instead
conventional cheap house paint instead of the oil paints that all the
of the oil paints that all the
of the oil paints that all the contemporaries had used but there was no
contemporaries had used but there was no
contemporaries had used but there was no clear scientific evidence there was some
clear scientific evidence there was some
clear scientific evidence there was some thought about why and how he might have
thought about why and how he might have
thought about why and how he might have done it and particularly what kind of
done it and particularly what kind of
done it and particularly what kind of paint he might have used and this was
paint he might have used and this was
paint he might have used and this was the house paint by the name ripoli so
the house paint by the name ripoli so
the house paint by the name ripoli so what we had to do in our study is we had
what we had to do in our study is we had
what we had to do in our study is we had to get a paint sample of a Picasso
to get a paint sample of a Picasso
to get a paint sample of a Picasso painting which we already had for the
painting which we already had for the
painting which we already had for the audience see – but then on the other
audience see – but then on the other
audience see – but then on the other side we had to find paint samples from
side we had to find paint samples from
side we had to find paint samples from the same time it’s almost 100 years ago
the same time it’s almost 100 years ago
the same time it’s almost 100 years ago so how would you do this
so how would you do this
so how would you do this well our way of doing it is is relying
well our way of doing it is is relying
well our way of doing it is is relying on
on
on the human beings because we are kind of
the human beings because we are kind of
the human beings because we are kind of strange sometimes to be honest many of
strange sometimes to be honest many of
strange sometimes to be honest many of us are collectors of something and
us are collectors of something and
us are collectors of something and believe it or not as a community out
believe it or not as a community out
believe it or not as a community out there collecting old paint samples but
there collecting old paint samples but
there collecting old paint samples but it gets even better so I have a
it gets even better so I have a
it gets even better so I have a wordpress facility the Art Institute in
wordpress facility the Art Institute in
wordpress facility the Art Institute in Chicago they have a virtual science
Chicago they have a virtual science
Chicago they have a virtual science facility the Advanced Photon Source in
facility the Advanced Photon Source in
facility the Advanced Photon Source in Illinois here and how do we get our
Illinois here and how do we get our
Illinois here and how do we get our samples well we use the French version
samples well we use the French version
samples well we use the French version of eBay by collecting paint samples on
of eBay by collecting paint samples on
of eBay by collecting paint samples on eBay and having real Picasso paints
eBay and having real Picasso paints
eBay and having real Picasso paints ampuls we were actually able then to
ampuls we were actually able then to
ampuls we were actually able then to shoot highly focused x-ray radiation on
shoot highly focused x-ray radiation on
shoot highly focused x-ray radiation on a tiny speck of paint and clearly
a tiny speck of paint and clearly
a tiny speck of paint and clearly determine and that’s no joke that Pablo
determine and that’s no joke that Pablo
determine and that’s no joke that Pablo Picasso indeed although his paintings
Picasso indeed although his paintings
Picasso indeed although his paintings are selling for millions and millions of
are selling for millions and millions of
are selling for millions and millions of dollars was using cheap conventional
dollars was using cheap conventional
dollars was using cheap conventional house paint in some of his artwork so
house paint in some of his artwork so
house paint in some of his artwork so what that means is maybe next time when
what that means is maybe next time when
what that means is maybe next time when you go to an auction you might save some
you go to an auction you might save some
you go to an auction you might save some money by just telling them who have
money by just telling them who have
money by just telling them who have heard about what paint he was using but
heard about what paint he was using but
heard about what paint he was using but even better you just have to go home and
even better you just have to go home and
even better you just have to go home and you can paint your house like a Pablo
you can paint your house like a Pablo
you can paint your house like a Pablo Picasso
well my my life as a scientist and as
well my my life as a scientist and as somebody who is interested in both
somebody who is interested in both
somebody who is interested in both science and art didn’t stop there just
science and art didn’t stop there just
science and art didn’t stop there just began this Pablo Picasso so I want to
began this Pablo Picasso so I want to
began this Pablo Picasso so I want to show you another example where I did
show you another example where I did
show you another example where I did work together as my friend at Vicenza he
work together as my friend at Vicenza he
work together as my friend at Vicenza he is from the Smithsonian Institution and
is from the Smithsonian Institution and
is from the Smithsonian Institution and what we studied here are degorio types
what we studied here are degorio types
what we studied here are degorio types which is the first practical type of
which is the first practical type of
which is the first practical type of photography and maybe even some of you
photography and maybe even some of you
photography and maybe even some of you might have a daguerreotype somewhere in
might have a daguerreotype somewhere in
might have a daguerreotype somewhere in the attic you just should search this
the attic you just should search this
the attic you just should search this are very interesting photographs because
are very interesting photographs because
are very interesting photographs because they came as the first type of practical
they came as the first type of practical
they came as the first type of practical photography to us during the time of the
photography to us during the time of the
photography to us during the time of the Civil War so all those photographs
Civil War so all those photographs
Civil War so all those photographs really carry highly in our history
really carry highly in our history
really carry highly in our history valuable information the one problem is
valuable information the one problem is
valuable information the one problem is they are no more than 200 years old and
they are no more than 200 years old and
they are no more than 200 years old and degradation happens so what we did is we
degradation happens so what we did is we
degradation happens so what we did is we went to advance to the Advanced Photon
went to advance to the Advanced Photon
went to advance to the Advanced Photon Source again and image and investigated
Source again and image and investigated
Source again and image and investigated the composition of those daguerreotype
the composition of those daguerreotype
the composition of those daguerreotype surfaces to understand what is happening
surfaces to understand what is happening
surfaces to understand what is happening why are they getting destroyed and we
why are they getting destroyed and we
why are they getting destroyed and we were able to determine that this is
were able to determine that this is
were able to determine that this is basically an effect of sulfide corrosion
basically an effect of sulfide corrosion
basically an effect of sulfide corrosion so this is also good news we will
so this is also good news we will
so this is also good news we will continue in that direction but hopefully
continue in that direction but hopefully
continue in that direction but hopefully we can make sure that those precious
we can make sure that those precious
we can make sure that those precious photographs get preserved for the future
photographs get preserved for the future
photographs get preserved for the future nevertheless for example the first
nevertheless for example the first
nevertheless for example the first photograph of Abraham Lincoln is a
photograph of Abraham Lincoln is a
photograph of Abraham Lincoln is a daguerreotype now these are just two
daguerreotype now these are just two
daguerreotype now these are just two examples about how I was able to connect
examples about how I was able to connect
examples about how I was able to connect art and science and that actually
art and science and that actually
art and science and that actually science can inform art but does it also
science can inform art but does it also
science can inform art but does it also work in the other direction cannot
work in the other direction cannot
work in the other direction cannot inform science the answer is yes and
inform science the answer is yes and
inform science the answer is yes and today when you look into the curriculum
today when you look into the curriculum
today when you look into the curriculum a modern curriculum at school you might
a modern curriculum at school you might
a modern curriculum at school you might see that the typical education and stem
see that the typical education and stem
see that the typical education and stem in science technology engineering and
in science technology engineering and
in science technology engineering and mathematics often now luckily gets
mathematics often now luckily gets
mathematics often now luckily gets connected with art and student in math
connected with art and student in math
connected with art and student in math now can understand that scale and
now can understand that scale and
now can understand that scale and geometry is actually exactly
geometry is actually exactly
geometry is actually exactly the same concept as perspective in art
the same concept as perspective in art
the same concept as perspective in art so there’s a lot to gain to give a
so there’s a lot to gain to give a
so there’s a lot to gain to give a holistic education to our kids and this
holistic education to our kids and this
holistic education to our kids and this is where my joy continues because over
is where my joy continues because over
is where my joy continues because over the last couple of years I was not only
the last couple of years I was not only
the last couple of years I was not only able to combine art and science I was
able to combine art and science I was
able to combine art and science I was also able to use this to bring forward
also able to use this to bring forward
also able to use this to bring forward this idea to our next generation of
this idea to our next generation of
this idea to our next generation of artists and scientists and was able to
artists and scientists and was able to
artists and scientists and was able to work with some high school groups and as
work with some high school groups and as
work with some high school groups and as an example I show a high school group
an example I show a high school group
an example I show a high school group here from Naperville in which we have
here from Naperville in which we have
here from Naperville in which we have studied historic iron gall ink this was
studied historic iron gall ink this was
studied historic iron gall ink this was the dominant ink over the last fifteen
the dominant ink over the last fifteen
the dominant ink over the last fifteen hundred years and a lot of documents are
hundred years and a lot of documents are
hundred years and a lot of documents are obviously written in them and one of the
obviously written in them and one of the
obviously written in them and one of the issues is that they easily get destroyed
issues is that they easily get destroyed
issues is that they easily get destroyed so we missed the high school and the
so we missed the high school and the
so we missed the high school and the scientists at the laboratory trying to
scientists at the laboratory trying to
scientists at the laboratory trying to figure out what’s the chemical
figure out what’s the chemical
figure out what’s the chemical composition of this ink and with the
composition of this ink and with the
composition of this ink and with the high involvement of the high school we
high involvement of the high school we
high involvement of the high school we were able to determine the chemical make
were able to determine the chemical make
were able to determine the chemical make up of this historic ink and here in an
up of this historic ink and here in an
up of this historic ink and here in an example of a document have you obtained
example of a document have you obtained
example of a document have you obtained from Naperville we could find out that
from Naperville we could find out that
from Naperville we could find out that this document or the ink although being
this document or the ink although being
this document or the ink although being almost 200 years old
almost 200 years old
almost 200 years old was already very advanced and people 200
was already very advanced and people 200
was already very advanced and people 200 years ago knew a lot about the bad
years ago knew a lot about the bad
years ago knew a lot about the bad properties of ink like a high pH value
properties of ink like a high pH value
properties of ink like a high pH value that I could lower by adding some extra
that I could lower by adding some extra
that I could lower by adding some extra so there was a lot to learn but we even
so there was a lot to learn but we even
so there was a lot to learn but we even continued another example is that more
continued another example is that more
continued another example is that more recently I worked with high school
recently I worked with high school
recently I worked with high school students on an Egyptian Karen ash which
students on an Egyptian Karen ash which
students on an Egyptian Karen ash which is the face mask that a mummy is
is the face mask that a mummy is
is the face mask that a mummy is carrying now these are all great things
carrying now these are all great things
carrying now these are all great things and I really have to say that for me
and I really have to say that for me
and I really have to say that for me this one moment defining moment in the
this one moment defining moment in the
this one moment defining moment in the laboratory this one night where were
laboratory this one night where were
laboratory this one night where were sitting together with the student and
sitting together with the student and
sitting together with the student and learned about what question was out
learned about what question was out
learned about what question was out there what mystery was out there about
there what mystery was out there about
there what mystery was out there about Picasso has deeply changed my life my
Picasso has deeply changed my life my
Picasso has deeply changed my life my life as a scientist and also my personal
life as a scientist and also my personal
life as a scientist and also my personal life
I want to invite you to maybe also think
I want to invite you to maybe also think about the different facets that are out
about the different facets that are out
about the different facets that are out there in your life and I’m very sure if
there in your life and I’m very sure if
there in your life and I’m very sure if you’re able to connect some of them you
you’re able to connect some of them you
you’re able to connect some of them you will have a much richer life and most
will have a much richer life and most
will have a much richer life and most likely you will also be able to go full
likely you will also be able to go full
likely you will also be able to go full spectrum thank you very much
spectrum thank you very much
spectrum thank you very much [Applause]
”
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