[Music] it’s a lazy sultry afternoon in Maryland
it’s a lazy sultry afternoon in Maryland
it’s a lazy sultry afternoon in Maryland the lawnmowers of mowing the bees are
the lawnmowers of mowing the bees are
the lawnmowers of mowing the bees are buzzing and my husband Doug and I are
buzzing and my husband Doug and I are
buzzing and my husband Doug and I are sitting in my mom’s kitchen table but
sitting in my mom’s kitchen table but
sitting in my mom’s kitchen table but we’re not eating we’re on a conference
we’re not eating we’re on a conference
we’re not eating we’re on a conference call to artists and two rival
call to artists and two rival
call to artists and two rival geneticists who I will call Gunther and
geneticists who I will call Gunther and
geneticists who I will call Gunther and Shawn who are in the middle of a huge
Shawn who are in the middle of a huge
Shawn who are in the middle of a huge argument and as they really go at it
argument and as they really go at it
argument and as they really go at it I finally can’t stand it anymore and I
I finally can’t stand it anymore and I
I finally can’t stand it anymore and I blurt out which side is left behind we
blurt out which side is left behind we
blurt out which side is left behind we have to show something what they were
have to show something what they were
have to show something what they were arguing about was whether the sense or
arguing about was whether the sense or
arguing about was whether the sense or the anti sense side of RNA is left after
the anti sense side of RNA is left after
the anti sense side of RNA is left after being cleaved by Dicer and taken up by
being cleaved by Dicer and taken up by
being cleaved by Dicer and taken up by Argonaut RNA AI or RNA interference
Argonaut RNA AI or RNA interference
Argonaut RNA AI or RNA interference offers the promise of being able to shut
offers the promise of being able to shut
offers the promise of being able to shut down certain diseases by silencing
down certain diseases by silencing
down certain diseases by silencing proteins we were collaborating with
proteins we were collaborating with
proteins we were collaborating with Nature Reviews Genetics in London to
Nature Reviews Genetics in London to
Nature Reviews Genetics in London to build this animation and they had put us
build this animation and they had put us
build this animation and they had put us in touch with these experts to help us
in touch with these experts to help us
in touch with these experts to help us understand the science the fact that
understand the science the fact that
understand the science the fact that these scientists were arguing was not
these scientists were arguing was not
these scientists were arguing was not remarkable because they tend to argue an
remarkable because they tend to argue an
remarkable because they tend to argue an awful lot what was remarkable was that
awful lot what was remarkable was that
awful lot what was remarkable was that Doug and I as artists had posed the
Doug and I as artists had posed the
Doug and I as artists had posed the question which provoked that argument
question which provoked that argument
question which provoked that argument and in so doing at that kitchen table we
and in so doing at that kitchen table we
and in so doing at that kitchen table we found ourselves on the very edge of what
found ourselves on the very edge of what
found ourselves on the very edge of what was known it was remarkable it gave me
was known it was remarkable it gave me
was known it was remarkable it gave me for a split second what it might feel
for a split second what it might feel
for a split second what it might feel like to actually be a scientist on the
like to actually be a scientist on the
like to actually be a scientist on the edge of discovery and it also revealed
edge of discovery and it also revealed
edge of discovery and it also revealed to me the synergy between art and
to me the synergy between art and
to me the synergy between art and science a thought occurs to you it’s
science a thought occurs to you it’s
science a thought occurs to you it’s this beautiful little bubble you send
this beautiful little bubble you send
this beautiful little bubble you send that thought out into the world and what
that thought out into the world and what
that thought out into the world and what happens to it well most of the time they
happens to it well most of the time they
happens to it well most of the time they pop but sometimes that idea will float
pop but sometimes that idea will float
pop but sometimes that idea will float along
along
along and land on the far shore of another
and land on the far shore of another
and land on the far shore of another mind where it takes root and that idea
mind where it takes root and that idea
mind where it takes root and that idea blooms acquisition translation into
blooms acquisition translation into
blooms acquisition translation into comprehension and then that person may
comprehension and then that person may
comprehension and then that person may float an idea back to you
this mental game of catch is what makes
this mental game of catch is what makes science go but how do these ideas move
art is the air through which thoughts
art is the air through which thoughts float it boys them it wraps them in
float it boys them it wraps them in
float it boys them it wraps them in color shape context motion meaning for
color shape context motion meaning for
color shape context motion meaning for the rest of us it can inspire but it can
the rest of us it can inspire but it can
the rest of us it can inspire but it can also destroy that thought so thought so
also destroy that thought so thought so
also destroy that thought so thought so care has to be taken and I am NOT saying
care has to be taken and I am NOT saying
care has to be taken and I am NOT saying that art for art’s sake isn’t useful or
that art for art’s sake isn’t useful or
that art for art’s sake isn’t useful or valuable because it absolutely is art is
valuable because it absolutely is art is
valuable because it absolutely is art is oxygen we cannot survive without it but
oxygen we cannot survive without it but
oxygen we cannot survive without it but in the context of serving science
in the context of serving science
in the context of serving science conveying an idea from one mind to the
conveying an idea from one mind to the
conveying an idea from one mind to the next is arts mission art and science
next is arts mission art and science
next is arts mission art and science have a symbiotic relationship that
have a symbiotic relationship that
have a symbiotic relationship that cannot be overlooked but these two
cannot be overlooked but these two
cannot be overlooked but these two worlds have drifted apart what’s
worlds have drifted apart what’s
worlds have drifted apart what’s happened science is the collective
happened science is the collective
happened science is the collective curiosity of the human mind art is the
curiosity of the human mind art is the
curiosity of the human mind art is the soul of civilization there is not a
soul of civilization there is not a
soul of civilization there is not a single culture on this planet that
single culture on this planet that
single culture on this planet that doesn’t have one expression of art and
doesn’t have one expression of art and
doesn’t have one expression of art and one form of science however basic so how
one form of science however basic so how
one form of science however basic so how do we bring these worlds back together
do we bring these worlds back together
do we bring these worlds back together again
there’s a little town in Tennessee
there’s a little town in Tennessee called Oak Ridge it was part of the
called Oak Ridge it was part of the
called Oak Ridge it was part of the Manhattan Project during World War two a
Manhattan Project during World War two a
Manhattan Project during World War two a secret city there were more scientists
secret city there were more scientists
secret city there were more scientists mathematicians and engineers there than
mathematicians and engineers there than
mathematicians and engineers there than you could shake a stick at and I grew up
you could shake a stick at and I grew up
you could shake a stick at and I grew up there and I thought until I left Oak
there and I thought until I left Oak
there and I thought until I left Oak Ridge that everybody in the world was
Ridge that everybody in the world was
Ridge that everybody in the world was one of those I really did but life
one of those I really did but life
one of those I really did but life presented two paths to me art and
presented two paths to me art and
presented two paths to me art and science and I didn’t think I had what it
science and I didn’t think I had what it
science and I didn’t think I had what it took to be a scientist so I chose art I
took to be a scientist so I chose art I
took to be a scientist so I chose art I had so much support from my family and
had so much support from my family and
had so much support from my family and my friends but I somehow felt that I had
my friends but I somehow felt that I had
my friends but I somehow felt that I had chosen the lesser path and even though
chosen the lesser path and even though
chosen the lesser path and even though these people surrounding me thought that
these people surrounding me thought that
these people surrounding me thought that I could do no wrong
I could do no wrong
I could do no wrong it didn’t make sense to me I didn’t
it didn’t make sense to me I didn’t
it didn’t make sense to me I didn’t understand why I felt like what I was
understand why I felt like what I was
understand why I felt like what I was doing was less than and here’s why I
doing was less than and here’s why I
doing was less than and here’s why I finally figured it out society looks at
finally figured it out society looks at
finally figured it out society looks at art like it’s a luxury it’s really nice
art like it’s a luxury it’s really nice
art like it’s a luxury it’s really nice but it’s not that necessary for human
but it’s not that necessary for human
but it’s not that necessary for human survival science is this cold
survival science is this cold
survival science is this cold impenetrable box it’s threatening but
impenetrable box it’s threatening but
impenetrable box it’s threatening but it’s a necessary evil science is the
it’s a necessary evil science is the
it’s a necessary evil science is the realm of a fact and truth an art is
realm of a fact and truth an art is
realm of a fact and truth an art is beauty and fiction is that true
do you think art and science are equally
do you think art and science are equally valid you may not there are many people
valid you may not there are many people
valid you may not there are many people who don’t if you look deep down in your
who don’t if you look deep down in your
who don’t if you look deep down in your soul science is here arts here it’s
soul science is here arts here it’s
soul science is here arts here it’s really beautiful it may be off here
really beautiful it may be off here
really beautiful it may be off here somewhere
somewhere
somewhere but it’s like this so how has this
but it’s like this so how has this
but it’s like this so how has this happened why are these worlds so far
happened why are these worlds so far
happened why are these worlds so far apart from one another
scientists want nothing more in the
scientists want nothing more in the world than to tell you about what
world than to tell you about what
world than to tell you about what they’re working on they are dying to
they’re working on they are dying to
they’re working on they are dying to tell you but if you don’t know their
tell you but if you don’t know their
tell you but if you don’t know their language you can’t understand what
language you can’t understand what
language you can’t understand what they’re talking about because
they’re talking about because
they’re talking about because discovering something or inventing
discovering something or inventing
discovering something or inventing something is radically different from
something is radically different from
something is radically different from telling somebody about that which is
telling somebody about that which is
telling somebody about that which is altogether different from from showing
altogether different from from showing
altogether different from from showing somebody and science begs to be shown so
somebody and science begs to be shown so
somebody and science begs to be shown so all this was going on and it finally
all this was going on and it finally
all this was going on and it finally came to a head when I came across this
came to a head when I came across this
came to a head when I came across this book and it crystallized my thinking
book and it crystallized my thinking
book and it crystallized my thinking about what happened to these two worlds
about what happened to these two worlds
about what happened to these two worlds in the 17th and 18th century in London
in the 17th and 18th century in London
in the 17th and 18th century in London the Royal Society science the Royal
the Royal Society science the Royal
the Royal Society science the Royal Academy art lived in the same building
Academy art lived in the same building
Academy art lived in the same building called Somerset house I would have given
called Somerset house I would have given
called Somerset house I would have given anything in the world to walk down the
anything in the world to walk down the
anything in the world to walk down the halls of this place where these
halls of this place where these
halls of this place where these scientists and artists were
scientists and artists were
scientists and artists were collaborating they had studios they had
collaborating they had studios they had
collaborating they had studios they had laboratories they were experimenting
laboratories they were experimenting
laboratories they were experimenting together and they viewed one another as
together and they viewed one another as
together and they viewed one another as equals because they were equals because
equals because they were equals because
equals because they were equals because most of them were both then both groups
most of them were both then both groups
most of them were both then both groups got bigger and in 1837 the Royal Academy
got bigger and in 1837 the Royal Academy
got bigger and in 1837 the Royal Academy moved out that is the year market that
moved out that is the year market that
moved out that is the year market that is the year where these two worlds began
is the year where these two worlds began
is the year where these two worlds began their tectonic shift away from one
their tectonic shift away from one
their tectonic shift away from one another
another
another and even though there are people who are
and even though there are people who are
and even though there are people who are trying to bridge this divide and there
trying to bridge this divide and there
trying to bridge this divide and there are a lot of them I think that in
are a lot of them I think that in
are a lot of them I think that in society these days these worlds have
society these days these worlds have
society these days these worlds have never been farther apart but the truth
never been farther apart but the truth
never been farther apart but the truth of the matter is as humans and we are
of the matter is as humans and we are
of the matter is as humans and we are all humans we require stories I find it
all humans we require stories I find it
all humans we require stories I find it fascinating that there are this many
fascinating that there are this many
fascinating that there are this many synonyms for the word story and that’s
synonyms for the word story and that’s
synonyms for the word story and that’s just the English language we need them
just the English language we need them
just the English language we need them to process and understand information I
to process and understand information I
to process and understand information I have one of the most fascinating stories
have one of the most fascinating stories
have one of the most fascinating stories that I’ve ever heard and it’s happening
that I’ve ever heard and it’s happening
that I’ve ever heard and it’s happening inside every single one of us right now
inside every single one of us right now
inside every single one of us right now it’s called your immune system it’s not
it’s called your immune system it’s not
it’s called your immune system it’s not called the forever war for nothing
called the forever war for nothing
called the forever war for nothing because it never ends
because it never ends
because it never ends there is no command center you just have
there is no command center you just have
there is no command center you just have millions of little cells all working
millions of little cells all working
millions of little cells all working together with one purpose in mind if
together with one purpose in mind if
together with one purpose in mind if that’s to keep you alive from one more
that’s to keep you alive from one more
that’s to keep you alive from one more day if the system says the wrong thing
day if the system says the wrong thing
day if the system says the wrong thing or stops talking
or stops talking
or stops talking that’s when disease can happen and it’s
that’s when disease can happen and it’s
that’s when disease can happen and it’s kind of like society you have these bad
kind of like society you have these bad
kind of like society you have these bad elements but sigh society will usually
elements but sigh society will usually
elements but sigh society will usually take care of that but when society
take care of that but when society
take care of that but when society doesn’t deal with that well enough
doesn’t deal with that well enough
doesn’t deal with that well enough that’s when you get things like cancer
that’s when you get things like cancer
that’s when you get things like cancer cells which can basically get away with
cells which can basically get away with
cells which can basically get away with murder or you have psoriasis this
murder or you have psoriasis this
murder or you have psoriasis this autoimmune disease tricks your system
autoimmune disease tricks your system
autoimmune disease tricks your system into thinking that you are the bad guy
into thinking that you are the bad guy
into thinking that you are the bad guy and you go after yourself or say you
and you go after yourself or say you
and you go after yourself or say you have an allergy you breathe something in
have an allergy you breathe something in
have an allergy you breathe something in your body goes into hyperdrive
your body goes into hyperdrive
your body goes into hyperdrive you have mast cells that start spilling
you have mast cells that start spilling
you have mast cells that start spilling out cytokines and histamines you feel
out cytokines and histamines you feel
out cytokines and histamines you feel awful or you may have a really bad
awful or you may have a really bad
awful or you may have a really bad infection and you send in the big guns
infection and you send in the big guns
infection and you send in the big guns which are neutrophils nature’s little
which are neutrophils nature’s little
which are neutrophils nature’s little cluster bombs which blow up and just
cluster bombs which blow up and just
cluster bombs which blow up and just destroy everything in an area to give
destroy everything in an area to give
destroy everything in an area to give you a chance to reset this is full-scale
you a chance to reset this is full-scale
you a chance to reset this is full-scale war going on inside of you all the time
war going on inside of you all the time
war going on inside of you all the time and you generally don’t know it unless
and you generally don’t know it unless
and you generally don’t know it unless you feel really bad these are classic
you feel really bad these are classic
you feel really bad these are classic story lines of birth death betrayal
story lines of birth death betrayal
story lines of birth death betrayal subterfuge mimicry heroics
subterfuge mimicry heroics
subterfuge mimicry heroics self-sacrifice and the fact that these
self-sacrifice and the fact that these
self-sacrifice and the fact that these stories are real is what makes them all
stories are real is what makes them all
stories are real is what makes them all the more compelling and art can show
the more compelling and art can show
the more compelling and art can show that to people I think this guy said it
that to people I think this guy said it
that to people I think this guy said it best study the signs of art study the
best study the signs of art study the
best study the signs of art study the art of science develop your senses
art of science develop your senses
art of science develop your senses especially learn how to see realize that
especially learn how to see realize that
especially learn how to see realize that everything is connected to everything
everything is connected to everything
everything is connected to everything else you we have the capacity to fold
else you we have the capacity to fold
else you we have the capacity to fold that thought into every waking moment
that thought into every waking moment
that thought into every waking moment and here’s why that’s important art can
and here’s why that’s important art can
and here’s why that’s important art can entice people to pay attention to
entice people to pay attention to
entice people to pay attention to science of those people some are gonna
science of those people some are gonna
science of those people some are gonna turn into scientists and they will solve
turn into scientists and they will solve
turn into scientists and they will solve some of the big problems we’ve got going
some of the big problems we’ve got going
some of the big problems we’ve got going on right now other people will be
on right now other people will be
on right now other people will be artists they will illuminate the science
artists they will illuminate the science
artists they will illuminate the science for other people so that they have an
for other people so that they have an
for other people so that they have an appreciation for it there are three
appreciation for it there are three
appreciation for it there are three things I would love for you to think
things I would love for you to think
things I would love for you to think about and do learn more science than you
about and do learn more science than you
about and do learn more science than you already know it’s not that hard there’s
already know it’s not that hard there’s
already know it’s not that hard there’s a lot of it out there make or find some
a lot of it out there make or find some
a lot of it out there make or find some art that will explain something that you
art that will explain something that you
art that will explain something that you learned to somebody else and then do
learned to somebody else and then do
learned to somebody else and then do that take that art and explain it to
that take that art and explain it to
that take that art and explain it to your brother your husband your child
your brother your husband your child
your brother your husband your child your grandmother your friend your
your grandmother your friend your
your grandmother your friend your co-worker share that experience of
co-worker share that experience of
co-worker share that experience of wonder
we are all members of the most
we are all members of the most technologically and scientifically
technologically and scientifically
technologically and scientifically advanced civilization that this planet
advanced civilization that this planet
advanced civilization that this planet has ever known
has ever known
has ever known we all have brains we all have power and
we all have brains we all have power and
we all have brains we all have power and we all have creativity use it own it
we all have creativity use it own it
we all have creativity use it own it make things better float that bubble out
make things better float that bubble out
make things better float that bubble out in the world and see what ideas bloom
in the world and see what ideas bloom
in the world and see what ideas bloom thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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