A Celebration of Creative Intelligence
The Science Ball is a celebration of the fusion of art and science. It's conceived as a powerful antidote to the modern division of these fields, designed to celebrate and reignite a timeless, fundamental fusion that has driven human progress for centuries.
The event’s core premise is that profound advancements in both art and science spring from the same wellsprings of human endeavor: keen observation, boundless creativity, and the essential need to communicate complex ideas.
The Science Ball seeks to reclaim this holistic spirit, demonstrating that science and art are not two distinct cultures, but rather two dialects of the same language of inquiry.
Image by: Kristina Barisic
Where Research Becomes Runway
The centerpiece of the Science Ball is a one-of-a-kind conceptual fashion show. In this spectacular showcase, complex scientific discoveries, from molecular structures to abstract theories, are translated by designers into breathtaking couture. These "wearable hypotheses" are then presented on the runway by the very scientists whose research inspired them, physically embodying the process of discovery.
Meet the Organizers
Adriana Tomic
Assistant Professor of Immunology
Boston University
The idea for the Science Ball was born from a frustration with boring scientific conferences. You know the ones: all logic, no passion, no ART. But that view is just wrong. Science is ART... It's a night to see a hypothesis walk the runway.
Nicole Kilian
She/Her | Faculty
Biology
Cal State University, Chico
"I am a faculty member at Cal State (USA) and DELSU (Nigeria). My lab investigates host–parasite interactions and malaria diagnostics. I am also a passionate science communicator. The Science Ball combines my love of art and science, and I’m so excited to see our brainchild come to life."
André K. Isaacs
He/Him | Faculty
Chemistry
College of the Holy Cross
"I’m an Associate Professor of Chemistry at the College of the Holy Cross where I teach and do research in organic chemistry. I use click chemistry as a platform for synthesizing nitrogen heterocycles. Like fashion, science requires creativity and innovation and I’m excited to showcase both in a labcoat."
Guest Speakers
Dr. Dan Jay
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Dan Jay is the living embodiment of the Science Ball mission. For 40 years, he has held parallel careers as a distinguished scientist (Professor and Dean Emeritus at Tufts) and a practicing artist.
Lucy Kim
Opening Speaker
Lucy Kim is an interdisciplinary artist and Associate Professor of Art at Boston University whose work operates at the literal intersection of painting, sculpture, and microbiology.
Dr. Ann Marie Leshkowich
Exhibition Curator
Dr. Ann Marie Leshkowich is a Professor of Anthropology at the College of the Holy Cross. For the Science Ball, Dr. Leshkowich provides the crucial cultural framework for the event's gallery exhibition on fashion, politics, and identity.
Fashion Designers
Kate Murphy
She/Her | Histotechnician
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University
"A histotechnician working in a veterinary pathology lab... I’m incredibly passionate about sharing my journey in this career field and bringing visibility through social media and community outreach. Being a part of the science ball gives me the opportunity to showcase the beauty of the microscopic world."
Scarlett Mai Dawson
They/Them, She/Her | Undergrad
Physics Major, Engineering Track
"From making my own clothes from scratch to upcycling thrifted clothes, sewing has been my creative outlet for as long as I can remember. From the moment I saw there was going to be a Science Ball, I knew I had to be a part of it. Scientific minds can be some of the most creative, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to show off my interpretations of STEM."
Caelum Lam
He/Him | Undergrad 2028
Neuroscience & Psychology
College of the Holy Cross
"I am a queer pre-med student, athlete, artist, and an active community member of Worcester. I believe art and science are inherently intertwined, and that our community should continue to uplift the beauty and truth we find within these disciplines!"
Trinette McDowell
Visual Artist
Sustainability Fanatic
"My name is Trinette McDowell... My art is vibrant, emotional and practical. I integrate my photography, collage, upcycled materials and found objects into vibrant pieces that show the practicality of sustainable materials. This science ball is a great opportunity to allow scientists and artists, as a team, to share their vision to create something dynamic and thought provoking."
Kurt S. Hultgren
Costume Designer
Holy Cross Dept of Theatre and Dance
Kurt has designed more than 100 productions and taught Costume Design since 1977. Other than cutting up a frog in Mr. Conley’s Biology class in the 8th Grade, designing a lab coat for the Science Ball is as close to a science lab as he has ever been, which is good news for everybody.
Rufus Dixon IV
He/Him | Fashion Designer
Rufus is a fashion designer with over 15 years of sewing experience. A graduate of Lasell University... his approach to design is deeply rooted in STEM principles, using problem-solving, precision, and structural thinking to engineer garments that balance form and function.
Matthew MacDonald
He/Him | Undergrad 2027
Classics & Biology
"As a biologist and classicist, I am fascinated with plants, i.e. life, in society. A complex web of knowledge and inequity mediates our engagement with science, biology especially. Through the Science Ball, I want to show how personality permeates all research and advocate for conscious social regard for knowledge."
John Dolan
Real Estate Leader
"I am a dedicated Real Estate leader who thrives on synthesizing diverse perspectives. With a deep commitment to education, I view creativity and design as essential tools for strategic problem-solving. I celebrate the Science Ball's dedication to collaborative excellence and innovative thinking."
Kristine Choy Legaspi
She/Her | Grad Student
Electroanalytical Chemistry
San Diego State University
"My love for blurring the lines between science and art inspires me to appreciate the beauty of chemistry and communicate my love for it through creative outlets, like using crochet to spark curiosity and get people excited about our field."
Aalliyeh Clinton
She/Her | Founder & CEO
Johns Hopkins University
Aalliyeh is a Material Science Engineer and the Founder of Monneah’s Engineered Materials, LLC, specializing in sustainable PPE. "Our mission is to empower, encourage, and evolve scientists to work safely and confidently while promoting a culture of innovation in the workplace."
Miso Chic
Vo Stewart Baxter
Event Models
Daniil Gurov
He/Him | Undergrad
Computer Science, Cybersecurity
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
"After exploring many different areas, from fashion to linguistics, I found my passion in technology and STEM. The Science Ball is a way for me to manifest my freedom from the ideological oppression of my past, and to claim space as a queer person in a field that notoriously lacks diversity."
Brooke Allyson Travis
She/Her | PhD Candidate
Biological Sciences
Harvard University
"I’m Brooke, a feminine presenting woman in STEM with a B.S from Cornell University and currently getting my PhD from Harvard University. I am tired of people assuming I cannot be both smart and stylish. By walking in the science fashion ball, my goal is to challenge this belief."
Suh Hee Cook
She/Her | Postdoc
Biomedical Engineering
University of Maryland
"I’m a postdoc in bioengineering focused on immune aging. My PhD work explored stem cells for cardiac tissue engineering. I am a poet, hip-hop artist, martial artist, and proud queer lesbian woman. I’m participating to celebrate showing up as your whole, fully expressed self in academia."
Anna Tseng
She/Her | 4th Year PhD
Virology, Immunology, and Microbiology
Boston University
"I’m Anna Tseng, a virologist and gymrat balancing biocontainment and chaos. If academia’s going to demand endless sacrifice, it might as well look dramatic doing it. Science Ball lets me transform pressure and burnout into something creative as well as draw attention to the less-beautiful culture hiding behind the lab coat."
Jane Waters
She/Her | Faculty
Biology
Providence College
"I am a comparative physiologist studying the metabolic scaling, collective behavior, and natural history of ants. My lab is working to decolonize myrmecology by integrating art with science, challenging problematic language, and creating new and inclusive spaces for collaboration and discovery."
Stephanie Crofts
She/Her | Faculty
Biology/Biomechanics
"I'm a biomechanist - I like poking critters and seeing if they poke back. Learning about the natural work and the way it works brings me joy, and I want to share that with people. I hope the science ball helps people see the beauty, joy, and community in STEM."
Shreya Chakdar
She/Her | Faculty
Physics
College of the Holy Cross
"I am a theoretical particle physicist at HC... I am thrilled to participate in the science ball to merge my artistic/performative sides of my persona with my scientist side and share with my HC community."
Dr. Jesus Evaristo Madrid
He/Him | Faculty
Neuroethology
College of the Holy Cross
"Drawing inspiration from nature, I view science as a creative and collaborative endeavor that benefits from diverse perspectives, disciplines, and ways of thinking."
Adin Shore
He/Him | Undergrad
Physics and Mathematics
College of the Holy Cross
"Hi, I’ve grown up here in Massachusetts. I have 2 golden retrievers and a yellow lab. I like to ski, particularly in Stowe VT, and bake new things. I signed up for the science ball because I thought it was a very fun and creative way to mesh science and art and I wanted to be a part of that."
Emmanuela Agyakwa
She/Her | Undergrad
Biology/Neuroscience
Holy Cross
"I’m participating in the Science Ball because I believe science and art aren’t so different, they both inspire creativity and discovery. As a singer and science enthusiast, I’m excited to bring my two passions together."
Iris Rosas Ochoa
She/Her | Undergrad
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Clark University
"I’m Iris Rosas Ochoa, a proud Latina in STEM and future MD passionate about scientific discovery and the breakthroughs that shape our world. I’m joining the Science Ball to celebrate curiosity, connect with fellow researchers, and showcase how creativity and community fuel innovation in science."
Brandon Curtis
He/Him | Undergrad
Biology
Holy Cross
"My name is Brandon and I am a Biology major. The reason I am participating in the science ball is because I am very interested in modeling."
Ester Calvo Fernandez
She/Her | Postdoc
Harvard Medical School | MGH
"I am a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School, where I study brain tumors... I believe that fashion and science are not mutually exclusive—and that women don’t belong in just one box. The Science Ball is the perfect event to showcase that!"
JJ Intano
He/Him | Postdoc
Organic Chemistry
University of Utah
"As a Filipino scientist from multiple underrepresented groups, I’m joining the Science Ball to celebrate a space where creativity, identity, and scientific curiosity are not only seen but proudly worn as part of the discovery itself."
Caelum Lam
He/Him | Undergrad 2028
Neuroscience & Psychology
College of the Holy Cross
"I am a queer pre-med student, athlete, artist, and an active community member of Worcester. I believe art and science are inherently intertwined!"
Scarlett Mai Dawson
They/Them, She/Her | Undergrad
Physics Major, Engineering Track
College of the Holy Cross
"From making my own clothes from scratch to upcycling thrifted clothes, sewing has been my creative outlet for as long as I can remember."
Imani Henriquez
Holy Cross
Brendon Curtis
He/Him | Undergrad
Biology
College of the Holy Cross
"My name is Brendon, and I am a sophomore Biology major... Alongside my studies, I work as a model, and I’ve always been fascinated by the way science and art can intersect. Being a part of this initiative felt like the perfect opportunity to bring together two major parts of my life."
Katelin Murphy
She/Her | Histotechnician
Tufts University
"I spend my days preparing tissue samples for microscopic evaluation... Being a part of the science ball gives me the opportunity to showcase the beauty of the microscopic world."
Miso Chic
MIT PhD Candidate
Aalliyeh Clinton
She/Her | Founder & CEO
Johns Hopkins University
"Our mission is to empower, encourage, and evolve scientists to work safely and confidently while promoting a culture of innovation in the workplace."
Becca Winarksi
Faculty
Math and Computer Science
Elle Spear
Holy Cross
Event Photographers
Rose De Guzman, PhD
She/Her | Neuroscientist & Photographer
"As a neuroscientist and photographer, I’ve built parallel careers in science and art - analyzing cells under the microscope and capturing performers onstage. The Science Ball perfectly fuses my two passions, showcasing that science and art don’t just coexist - they ignite each other."
Deborah Karson
She/Her | Photographer
"A photographer capturing the intersection of science and style, Deborah brings an artist’s eye to the College of Holy Cross Science Ball. Though her lens is trained tonight on fashion, she’s surrounded by scientists—as a daughter, wife, and mother—all of whom champion the arts as passionately as she champions their work."
Partners & Exhibitors
Center for Synthetic Organic Electrochemistry (CSOE)
Visit their table during the 5-6pm slot!
The NSF-funded Center for Synthetic Organic Electrochemistry (CSOE) unites chemists from 14 universities to rethink how we build useful molecules. By using electricity instead of harsh chemicals, CSOE researchers are developing cleaner, safer, and more efficient reactions that can transform how pharmaceuticals, materials, and everyday chemicals are made. Alongside cutting-edge research, the Center supports undergraduate research opportunities that build skills in modern electrochemistry.
Gallery of Discovery
Explore the visual language of the Science Ball, from BioArt and data visualization to the "wearable hypotheses" of our centerpiece fashion show.
