On Wednesday, over 100 attendees gathered in Talley’s State Ballroom to listen to Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya during the College of Sciences’ first Crossroads Series event, Science and Design. Phingbodhipakkiya, a scientist and artist, spoke about her experiences combining both science and design in her work.
“My first passion was for science,” Phingbodhipakkiya said. “Neuroscience, in fact. I got into neuroscience through dance. I was a ballerina for many years until I had a terrible accident where I tore everything up. After my surgery, I couldn’t believe just how much my sense of balance had changed. I was devastated, so I turned to neuroscience to understand why I couldn’t move as gracefully as I used to.”
Phingbodhipakkiya also explained the many projects she has worked on that integrate both science and design, including The Leading Strand, an organization that uses design to understand scientific work, and Beyond Curie, a project which showcased women in STEM throughout history.
“The Leading Strand is an initiative that uses design to shine a light on the intersection of design and science,” Phingbodhipakkiya said. “We pair scientists and designers to co-create experiences that translate research in really compelling ways.”
Science and Design was the first event of what the College of Sciences hopes to be many in the Crossroad Series, which was created to bring thinkers from across many disciplines to NC State to discuss topics that affect both science and society. The series was named for the Crossroads Building, planned to be built in the space previously occupied by Harrelson Hall. William Ditto, dean of the College of Sciences, explained its purpose.
“These events will feature dynamic speakers on the intersection of science and human experience and unique creativity — science as it relates to every aspect of life,” Ditto said.
Phingbodhipakkiya’s project Beyond Curie was on display outside the ballroom, and attendees walked through and viewed the exhibit before and after the program. They received miniature prints of Phingbodhipakkiya’s artwork.
The event was followed by a reception where students and other attendees could mingle and meet Phingbodhipakkiya.
Darya Levchenko, a graduate student studying film, enjoyed Phingbodhipakkiya’s speech and found her topic very engaging.
“I’m really interested in the merge of different sciences,” Levchenko said. “I’m a film student, and I’m interested in the design of space and visual culture. I think the combination of design and science should be explored out there because it gives new insight and is more accessible to the public.”
Zach Dukic, a graduate student studying English, also found Phingbodhipakkiya’s speech very interesting.
“I think that the building of women in science is an important advancement for civilization as a whole,” Dukic said. “Women offer different perspectives than men in many ways, and I like to hear that they’re being promoted in sciences, like generally male-dominated sciences.”
Pieces from Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya's pop-up gallery, Beyond Curie, celebrate the accomplishments of women of science from all types of backgrounds in Talley Student Union on Wednesday. The collection currently includes 35 women, including all 16 female winners of the Nobel Prize in Physics, Chemistry, and Medicine/Physiology.
