The American Society PRESIDENT’S Column for Cell 8120 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 750 Bethesda, MD 20814-2762, USA Tel: 301-347-9300 The Art and Science of Cell Fax: 301-347-9310 Biology (ASCB2) [email protected], www.ascb.org This President’s Column was written by guest columnists Janet Iwasa and Graham Johnson. 2) How can we better engage the public and Officers maintain their interest in cell biology? Ronald Vale President Captivating imagery has always complemented The Scientist as Artist: Tools to Don W. Cleveland President-Elect cell biology. Two new events at the ASCB 2012 Enhance Research and Creativity Sandra L. Schmid Past President Annual Meeting in San Francisco will explore Visualizations of biological data range from Thoru Pederson Treasurer Kathleen J. Green Secretary issues at the interface 2D bar graphs and of science and art that to intricate molecular Council increasingly affect our animations encapsulating Sue Biggins field: decades of research. A well- David Botstein 1) From Histograms conceived, well-executed A. Malcolm Campbell to Animations, a presentation can be a Raymond J. Deshaies Working Group powerful, lasting tool— Benjamin S. Glick Akihiro Kusumi focusing on not only to communicate Inke Näthke , will results and theories but also Mark Peifer delve into ways for to bring about new ideas. James H. Sabry researchers to clarify Janet Iwasa Graham Johnson As scientific illustrators, David L. Spector JoAnn Trejo complex data for we frequently see that Yixian Zheng analysis and communication. researchers gain new insights and testable 2) A scientific art show will serve as a theories during the course of their collaboration The ASCB Newsletter prototype for a traveling gallery intended to with us, ultimately leading to detailed models is published 11 times per year immerse the public in the visual language of cell and animations. One portion of our Working by The American Society biology. Group, From Histograms to Animations: Effective for Cell Biology. Since the time of Leeuwenhoek and Hooke’s Visualization Makes Complex Data Clear, aims W. Mark Leader Editor simple lenses, the beauty and mystery of life to give researchers more direct access to these Johnny Chang Production Coordinator viewed under the microscope has inspired visualization processes through relatively easy- Kevin Wilson Public Policy Director young scientists. Early microscopists’ detailed to-use software, storyboarding protocols to John Fleischman Science Writer Thea Clarke Director, Communications , such as those published in Hooke’s projects efficiently, and other resources and and Education Microscopia (1665), fascinated both scientists techniques. For more intricate systems or larger and the public. Whereas these illustrations projects, we will demonstrate more advanced Advertising yielded both questions and tools and general protocols answers for biologists, the public to enable researchers to work The deadline for advertising is the admired and discussed these effectively with visualization first day of the month preceding the Today, individuals cover date. For information contact images as art. experts. Advertising Manager Ed Newman, Today, individuals from from diverse Molecular viewer [email protected]. diverse backgrounds make up software limits the types of backgrounds ASCB Newsletter a vibrant community growing visualizations that can be ISSN 1060-8982 at the intersection of art and make up a vibrant produced, and professional Volume 35, Number 9 science. From fine artists creating community growing 3D animation software October 2012 biology-inspired works, to typically presents a dauntingly © 2012 The American Society for Cell scientists using art to better at the intersection steep learning curve for Biology. Copyright to the articles is held understand or communicate their nonspecialists. We will present by the author or, for staff-written articles, of art and science. by the ASCB. The content of the ASCB own research, many noteworthy new tools to reduce these Newsletter is available to the public under and exciting trends are evident. technical barriers but will also an Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike Unported Creative Commons License Through new ASCB events, focus on the more critical (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ we will address two issues of interest to cell aspects of creating effective animations: what to by-nc-sa/3.0). biologists: include, what to leave out, and how to organize Postmaster: Send change of address to: ASCB Newsletter 1)What can cell biologists gain from a story. We help our collaborators decide on all The American Society for Cell Biology improved visualization tools and techniques? aspects of an animation, such as the number, 8120 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 750 Bethesda, MD 20814-2762, USA

OCTOBER 2012 ASCB NEWSLETTER 3 illustrations for model figures. We often create these visualizations initially to explore and make sense of data, and then refine them to communicate ideas in a publication. Ideally, data visualizations clarify trends and outliers. Sometimes, however, poor representations of data lead to confusing—or worse, misleading— figures. Even though cell biologists rely heavily on , few have received any training on visual representation of data. Bang Wong’s “Points of View” series in Methods shows that understanding basic design principles is essential to creating effective scientific figures. In our session, Wong will highlight many key concepts from these columns to help researchers create effective 2D and 3D visual communications. We invite you to come to our Working Group and share some of the challenges that you have faced while making representations of your data.

(Left) An articulated model can act as a virtual protein “puppet” that allows researchers to The Art and Science of Cell Biology visualize complex processes in 3D, such as the walking cycle of the . 2 (Created by Iwasa in collaboration with the Reck-Peterson group at Harvard Medical School.) (ASCB ): An Art Show at the Annual Meeting 2 (Right) From ASCB , this editorial image uses the structure of dynein to grab audience attention With the support of ASCB President Ron Vale, and summarize the key point of a research article. The depicts molecular motors carrying cargo vesicles along different cytoskeletal substrates, with an intersection symbolizing we have planned a new event at the ASCB the cargo’s ability to transition between filaments and at specific molecular Annual Meeting. The Art and Science of Cell junctions. (Created by Johnson for Frank Heisler et al. for the April 14, 2011, cover of Neuron. Biology (ASCB2) will be an art gallery spread ©G. Johnson and Elsevier, Inc.) across two open spaces in the Moscone Center, featuring large-format prints of molecular and shape, size, dynamics, kinetics, and localization cellular images. of molecules. Although experimental evidence Scientific visualizations can reach far beyond By immersing a new will guide many of these decisions, many our laboratories. Popular, public-facing efforts to audience in cellular questions inevitably remain, from visible gaps highlight visually striking scientific images have in structure to gaps in biochemical details. increased. Competitions such as the National and subcellular Recognizing these gaps in our knowledge, Science Foundation–American Association imagery without and attempting to fill them with hypothetical for the Advancement of Science International possibilities, can lead to new ideas and Science and Engineering Visualization any attempt to experiments. The final animation acts as a visual Challenge, Nikon’s Small World microscopy overtly educate, hypothesis—a dynamic model figure of sorts— competition, and ASCB’s Celldance, as well as the cover illustrations of many research journals we hope to remedy that colleagues can readily view (and critique). As an example of this process, the accompanying (see accompanying figure), and encourage this unfamiliarity figure shows a few frames from an animation scientists to evaluate their visual work with an [of the public of a 3D dynein model. Our session will also aesthetic eye. As with the illustrations of Hooke, cover new, multiscale efforts under development diverse audiences can appreciate the images with cell biology], that will allow sharing and iterative community and illustrations in these contests. Jargon-filled slowly connecting improvement of such model figures. descriptions aren’t necessary to appreciate these Although relatively few cell biologists have images; they simply engage a broader audience the world of cells experience with 3D animation (a fact that we with aesthetically pleasing or curiosity-inducing and molecules to hope to remedy), nearly all of us have created qualities. These examples highlight an issue we faced daily experiences. other forms of data visualization, such as charts and graphs of abstract data and vector-based when presenting our molecular-scale work to

4 ASCB NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2012 general audiences. Whereas astronomers can Although aesthetics, composition, value, and awe the public with images of galaxies and the color initially drew viewers to study any given surface of Mars, and hands-on physics exhibits piece, discussion inevitably moved to biological at children’s science museums attract hordes of content and context. Conversations and theories school kids, using cell and molecular biology often headed down bizarre paths, but scientists As scientific to draw and maintain the attention of general mixed into the room would overhear and steer illustrators, we audiences is much harder. Although faceless these conversations or would answer questions molecules may never compete with dinosaurs, asked from a motivated, rather than a captive, frequently see all these other branches of science have a audience. that researchers commonality that gives them an advantage. This is an exciting time to work at the gain new insights Astronomy and physics exhibits can capitalize art–science junction, particularly as cell and on everyday human experiences and a cultural molecular biologists. We hope that practical and testable vocabulary. We can look into the night sky to techniques learned in the Working Group will theories during see constellations and our own Milky Way, couple with inspiration from the gallery to making it a short leap to yearn to explore detailed help researchers create enduring visualizations. the course of their findings from the Hubble telescope. But cell From this small beginning, we hope to expand collaboration with biology is often too alien for general audiences, into an annual event to branch out into local both visually and semantically, leaving viewers art galleries, where the public might join us, ultimately more overwhelmed and confused than awed or researchers to appreciate the beauty of cells and leading to detailed inspired. We take for granted that outside our molecules and delve further into biology. We models and professional circles, the word protein usually expect the events to create a fertile new ground brings to mind a juicy cut of beef rather than a for conversations about scientific visualization animations. folded polypeptide chain. and a renewed appreciation of the beauty of cell By immersing a new audience in cellular biology that will eventually spread to the general and subcellular imagery without any attempt public. to overtly educate, we hope to remedy this We hope that, with repeated exposure to such unfamiliarity, slowly connecting the world events, viewers will gain familiarity with the of cells and molecules to daily experiences. forms of molecules and cells, and then acquire The inspiration for this immersive approach a language with which to associate those forms. stemmed from a recent experience that Graham Viewers will better understand the context Johnson had during an exhibition of his artwork of these images as an extension of their daily and a shared seminar with Ron Vale, which experiences and gain the motivation to go from Janet Oliver of the University of New Mexico asking What is it? to Why do I care? and perhaps organized in conjunction with the Santa Fe even to How can I find out more? Complex. The exhibit, consisting of molecular —Janet Iwasa, Harvard Medical School, and illustrations enlarged and hung as fine art, drew Graham Johnson, University of , San art lovers, scientists, and curious passersby. Francisco

New! Free Career Webinars Being Offered in the Fall

Four Career Development Webinars will be offered free to ASCB members and member applicants this fall. Career Planning for Cell Biologists: Industrial Opportunities in the Current Economy. Thursday, October 11, 2012, 12:00 pm EDT Developing Your 30-Second Value Statement. Tuesday, October 23, 2012, 12:00 pm EDT Network Yourself to a Great Career. Thursday, November 15, 2012, 12:00 pm EST Identifying and Seizing Value from Conference Participation. Tuesday, November 27, 2012, 12:00 pm EST For more information and to register, visit ascb.org, click on “Careers & Education,” then “Career Webinars.” —Thea Clarke

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