Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, as the first science fiction novel, initiated a long running dialog between science and art. From Jules Verne, to Stanley Kubrick, to Eduardo Kac (artist who created the glow in the dark rabbit), artists have been absorbing scientific ideas and extending them to new dimensions within the laboratory of the mind. This panel will discuss the ways in which artists applied scientific ideas and techniques to their art, and ways that artists have communicated the possibilities that scientific discoveries hold.

Palos Heights Members
Moderator: Michelle Zurawski
Ms. Zurawski holds a master’s degree in ocean science with an emphasis in marine biology from Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Institute in Ft. Lauderdale, where she did research on endangered species. She holds a Master of Education degree in curriculum studies from DePaul University.  Prior to teaching biology at Moraine Valley, Ms. Zurawski worked in the planning and design department at the Shedd Aquarium.

Tom Sullivan
Mr. Sullivan holds a M.F.A. degree in creative writing and poetry from Wichita State University and an M.A. degree in 19^th century literature from the University of Iowa. Throughout his three decades as a faculty member at Moraine Valley, Mr. Sullivan has been a campus leader and innovator, being awarded both Mater Teaching and Professor of the Year during his tenure on campus.

Krista Syrup
Ms. Syrup holds a master’s degree in geology from Western Michigan University and a master’s degree in information systems management from Loyola University Chicago.  She is an instructor of environmental/earth science at Moraine Valley. In 1999, Ms. Syrup coauthored the article “Is selective preservation of nitrogenous organic matter reflected in the ¶¹³C signal of lacustrine organic matter?” in Chemical Geology.

Janet Kotash
Ms. Kotash holds a master’s degree in environmental biology from Governors State University. She is an associate professor of Natural Science and department chair of Physical Science at Moraine Valley. She is a past president of the Illinois Association of Community College Biologists.

Nancy Morrissey
Ms. Morrissey holds a master’s degree in project management from The Keller School of Graduate Management-DeVry University. She is an instructor of Information Management Systems at Moraine Valley. While teaching in the technology areas at Moraine Valley, Ms. Morrissey maintains a keen interest in the biological sciences, nature, conservation, and the arts.

Sam Chen
Mr. Chen holds a master’s degree in biological science with an emphasis in human anatomical science from Northern Illinois University. He is an instructor of Biology at Moraine Valley and comments that he loves to dissect bodies.

Moraine Valley Panel Members
Moderator: John Nash
Mr. Nash holds a master’s degree in communication from Kansas State University. He is currently an instructor of Communications and assistant director of the Forensics Team at Moraine Valley. Mr. Nash competed for the Indiana University Speech team, where he was recognized nationally by both the National Forensics Association and the American Forensic Association.

Craig Rosen
Dr. Rosen holds a Ph.D. in theater from the University of Colorado--Boulder, an M.A. from Emerson College in Boston, and a B.A. from Temple University in his native Philadelphia. Dr. Rosen assumed his position as director of the Moraine Valley Theater Department in fall 2002.

Erik La Gatutta
Mr. La Gatutta holds a master’s degree in fine arts from the Art Institute of Chicago, where he studied painting. He is an instructor of Fine Art at Moraine Valley, who teaches drawing, life drawing, and painting. Mr. La Gatutta is an exhibited painter whose work explores the relationship between people, technology and the environment.

Tyler Hewitt
Mr. Hewitt holds the Master of Fine Arts degree from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan. He is an instructor of Studio Art-Photography and Design at Moraine Valley. Mr. Hewitt is a nationally exhibited photographer whose research and work focuses on the organizational and conceptual structure of collage-theory.

Janet Kotash
Ms. Kotash holds a master’s degree in environmental biology from Governors State University. She is an associate professor of Natural Science and department chair of Physical Science at Moraine Valley. She is a past president of the Illinois Association of Community College Biologists.

Sandra Gibbons
Ms. Gibbons holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in biology from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is also working on a master’s in education specializing in online teaching from Capella University. Ms. Gibbons is an associate professor of Biology at Moraine Valley.