Matt
Thanks for trying to talk to the scientific population ; I'd be glad to
share my wonder at the beautiful things I've been privileged to see as a
result of being a scientist
We all can marvel at the loveliness of the rose, its colour , symmetry and
smell. A rose is a rose is a rose, but to a scientist it's also a turbulent
world of submicroscopic chemical turmoil, controlled by its cellular and
subcellular structures; the greatest of which is DNA
The symmetry of the X-ray structure of DNA and its subsequently-revealed
double helix stimulated my entry into biology and this in turn lead to
sights, sounds and sensations not available to the rest of society. 
e.g. the first time I span human DNA in the test tube and saw the white
fibres, knowing it held the key to that particular man's infertility
Then growing green blobs of plant tissue cultures, knowing these little
shapeless masses would have been plants if I hadn't subjected them to
chemicals and cloning techniques.
finally running soft, black moon dirt through by hands at Houston after
reading how meticulously scientifically controlled NASA's protection
against extraterrestrial organisms was and knowing the technicians threw
both plants and moon dirt out of the back door owing to the pressure of
work 
I think these scientific experiences should be available to all and welcome
your attempt to portray them. You need to talk to the scientists working in
the field; try the genetics/ biochemist scientists outlined in the guardian
this Monday. Some may be too busy, others just like other humans unwilling
to share, but the greatest scientists will always try to convey their awe
of the discoveries being made
Good luck
----------
> From: HAWTHORN, Matt <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
> Subject: art-science collaboration
> Date: 21 April 1999 16:17
> 
> Dear Stephen
> Thank you for your speedy response. Whilst my personal admiration for
Mary 
> Goldring is considerable, I think that the term "jargon" is a bit rich 
> coming from the representative of any professional body but particularly
a 
> scientific one. We all have our terminology and technical languages so to

> clarify.
> Cultural Theorist  -  somebody who theorises the issues affecting culture
> Materiality of DNA  -  DNA as a material presence
> Cultural Role  -  the impact of the existence of DNA on culture and the
way 
> in which the discourses around genetics has affected our perception of 
> human culture.
> High public profile  -  the work I am investigating will link into a
number 
> of national and internation festivals and is contentious enough to
generate 
> public response.
> I hope this clarifies.
> Matt 
> 
>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

> --
> REPLY FROM: HAWTHORN, Matt
> Microsoft Mail v3.0 (MAPI 1.0 Transport) IPM.Microsoft Mail.Note
> From: [log in to unmask]
> To:  [log in to unmask]
> Subject:  art-science collaboration
> Date: 1999-04-21 15:36
> Priority: 3
> Message ID: F09E8C37EEF7D21185A30060B01A4133
> 
>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

> --
> 
> 
> In response to Matt Hawthorn's posting below......
> Some years ago Mary Goldring interviewed an economist on BBC Radio
> 4...after a particularly jargon filled few sentences Goldring interjected
> with the immortal phrase: "in English please".
> So perhaps Matt could help some of us out with some definitions of:
> cultural theorist
> materiality of DNA, and its cultural role.
> Also perhaps Matt could help us out by telling us how he can predict that
> the event will have 'a high public profile'.
> I really thought that CP Snow was dead....but I fear not.
> Help.
> Stephen White
> Director of Information
> The British Psychological Society
>  ---------------------- Forwarded by Stephen White/British Psychological
> Society on 21/04/99 16:25 ---------------------------
> 
> 
> [log in to unmask] on 21/04/99 14:13:00
> 
> Please respond to [log in to unmask]
> 
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> cc:    (bcc: Stephen White/British Psychological Society)
> Subject:  art-science collaboration
> 
> 
> 
> 
> This is just a way of introducing myself to the list and outline a
project
> which I'm working towards, to see if anyone would be interested in
> collaborating.
> 
> I'm an artist and cultural theorist. I am currently interested in
creating
> an
> event which looks at the materiality of DNA, and it's cultural role. I
> think
> 
> this might be of some interest to the subscribers of this list. I'm
looking
> for somebody who works with DNA, possibly somebody in an academic
> department,
> who would be interested in a collaboration. This would be quite a small
> project but with a high public profile.
> 
> If anybody is interested in this or in collaborations between artists and
> scientists generally please reply and we can open some discussions.
> 
> Matt Hawthorn
> [log in to unmask]
> 
> 
> 


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