About Us | Press Releases | 2007 | November 1

FEROCIOUS BEAUTY: GENOME:  CONNECTING SCIENCE AND ART AT THE BIO IT COALITION 7TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE

How do the arts expand curiosity, creativity and knowledge?  How does the connection of art and science bring about broad thinking that helps scientists with new discoveries?  The BIO IT Coalition's 7th Annual Conference will examine this relationship during "The State of Healthcare and Medical Technology in 2028," where it will present a thought provoking dance program at the Carnegie Institution in Washington D.C. On April 23, 2008, Ferocious Beauty: Genome by the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange will bring artistic, scientific, and scholarly perspective to the latest developments in human genome research and their impact on society and life.

Ferocious Beauty: Genome is a fresh way to both entertain and examine the issues that must be addressed now, so that healthcare in the future will improve.  Ferocious Beauty: Genome was developed through an unprecedented collaboration between dance and science, as the Dance Exchange partnered with scientists and scholars from institutions such as the University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins, Princeton and Stanford universities, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, NIH and the Genetics & Public Policy Center about genetics research ranging from curing disease to maintaining bio-diversity to fighting terrorism.  "In Ferocious Beauty: Genome, we were thrown into a lovely fling, collaborating with many scientists.  Their passion for their work and the definition of science as a curious environment made this a great way to get into other people's universes," said Liz Lerman.  "I knew that presenting the subject through art would offer a new way to view these issues and think more deeply about controversies raised by the potential of genetic research.  And, as we collaborated with scientists it became clear that biology and dance share a common theme in movement itself, it made using choreography even more compelling."

"We look forward to this opportunity to give our attendees, who are leaders in their fields, new ways to communicate and approach their science and business interests," said Steve Mandell of Pepper Hamilton LLP and the Chairman of the BIO IT Coalition.  "Liz Lerman Dance Exchange brings these important issues forward in a memorable and exciting way.  Our audience will be inspired to enrich interactions at the convergence of bioscience, IT and business to help improve the future of healthcare.  The conference program is shaping up nicely, as Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, will deliver the Keynote speech.  Much more has and will be added."

Current sponsors for the April event include American Medical Records Network and Pepper Hamilton LLP.

Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, a professional company of dance artists that creates, performs, teaches and engages people in making art.  They develop groundbreaking dance works with their cross-generational company and perform on major stages in the U.S. and abroad.  The Exhange offers classes, workshops and institutes for people who dance to make a living, people who dance to make a better life and people who have never danced before.  Founding Artistic Director, Liz Lerman, received a MacArthur "Genius Grant" fellowship in 2002 for her visionary work.  Her work has been commissioned by Lincoln Center, the American Dance Festival and The Kennedy Center, among others.

The BIO IT Coalition bridges the life sciences and information technology industries to promote the growth of the bio/IT industry through interactive, content-driven programs which highlight innovation, investment, education, collaboration and partnership.  Such collaborations will result in faster development and delivery of new therapies and diagnostics, better patient care, and other life science related technologies, goods and services.