Nottingham Trent University graduate 2018

Visiting Artist

2020, 2025

Dr. Merritt Moore’s residency was an investigation of choreographing a dance duet between a robot and a human. This residency included collaborators Alice Williamson and a UR10e robotic arm.

Merritt is a physicist and professional ballet dancer. Merritt graduated in physics from Harvard and with a PhD in Atomic and Laser Physics from the University of Oxford. She also danced professionally with the Zurich Ballet, Boston Ballet, English National Ballet, and, most recently, Norwegian National Ballet. Merritt was awarded Forbes 30 under 30, Michael von Clemm Fellowship from Harvard, and is featured in “Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls”, alongside Ada Lovelace and Oprah.

Whether in the physics lab or ballet studio, Merritt is an experimentalist driven by curiosity to push the boundaries of scientific research through art. Her current work at the ArtLab, with her collaborator Alice Williamson, investigates a dance duet between a robot and a human choreographed by Artificial Intelligence. Their aim is to create a duet between a human and a robot that can ignite new conversations around tech, champion a female voice, and speak to fresh audiences through the voice of dance.

Merritt’s work has been featured at the Barbican, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and Imagine Film Festival in NY. She has been invited to talk to, most recently, the Forbes Women’s Summit in NY, the U.S. Embassy’s Women in STEM Panel in London, the Princeton Physics Dept, TEDx Oxford, and the University of Oslo on the intersection of science and art. She was also one of the 12 selected astronaut candidates to undergo a rigorous selection process on BBC Two “Astronauts: Do you have what it takes?” under the guidance of Commander Chris Hadfield and continues to pursue that dream.

Alice Williamson is a multidisciplinary artist and performer from London, England, who has led creative research and visual production during this residency. Williamson has performed as a professional ballet dancer working with Staatsballett Berlin, Hong Kong Ballet, and Royal Opera House, London. Williamson is also the founder of Designed by Alice fashion for ballet dancers.

February 2020 ArtLab event associated with this residency: Merritt Moore: work-in-progress

ArtLab podcast Works in Progress Episode 2 features Dr. Merritt Moore speaking about this residency.

Read about Merritt’s project in this featured article by Universal Robots, “Dancing Through the Pandemic: How a Quantum Physicist Taught a Cobot to Dance.”

Upcoming May 2025 ArtsThursdays event at ArtLab: Merritt Moore: Performance

Merritt Moore dancing with a robot. She is a light skinned person with long dark hair. She is bent forward on her tip toes, in her ballet shoes. She is leaning towards her robot, which is positioned to the right of her and looking up at her face.

ArtLab

Harvard University

140 N. Harvard Street

Allston, MA 02134

artlab@harvard.edu

Kenzie graduated kindergarten today. She turned 19 weeks old today also.

Photo taken April 23, 2022 with a Panasonic LX7 camera, Kiwi Fotos filter adapter, Cokin Series A filter holder, and 1 stop

Cokin graduated neutral density filter. Image recorded in RAW format then developed with SilkyPix Developer Studio 3.1

Graduates

University Centre, Cambridge. Still popularly known as the Grad Pad or Graduate Centre.

In North Carolina, at a scenic viewing spot on the Blue Ridge Parkway, this fall colors view was captured. The sky was darkened with a graduated filter.

NCB_0295 Blue Ridge Parkway view fence

Trinity College

Allium at Whole Foods. Just looking.

I try to think about the Mexican workers who grew and harvested the fancy vegetables. . . . .

Here's more about this particular farm in California.

cokefarm.com

Trinity College

Graduates

Album: Noche - Night

graduating students

Well I still have to wait to get the papers done and the ceremony won't be until October (that's why there are not pictures of me in robes), but I have completed all the courses and projects with great grades, so I'm officialy a Physicist! =D

Unfortunately I still have things to do, as I have to prepare for the master Astrophysics courses. But the amount of free time has increased notoriously so I'll be able to resume my usual posting scheme! Yay! <3

Graduates

A photo from a shoot for a friend of mine graduating. I’m so proud of her!

My oldest son Sam graduated from Purdue this weekend. A proud moment for us all. Here he is in his cap and gown giving his younger brother a pre commencement bear hug. I think we have the Christmas photo taken care of!

IMG_6492_0516.jpg

Graduates line up for the ceremony on a beautiful Saturday spring day. May 1989.

High School Graduation Ceremony

glass awning at the city university of new york *gradjit senter* on 34th street & 5th avenue (365) - manhattan, nyc

This is a landmark nine story building designed by Trowbridge & Livingston for the B. Altman Company in 1906. It was the first department store on 5th Avenue and built in an Italian Renaissance palazzo style. It comprises a complete city block. The architects also built the St. Regis Hotel in 1904, JP Morgan HQ on Wall Street in 1913 and the Hayden Planetarium in 1935.

It's official. The last exam has been written and she has graduated with distinction from high school. I am so proud of my girl. She's worked hard and is getting ready to take on the world. But first, we celebrate

- Crop and smoothing only

- Graduated ND filter on lens

Adjectives 101: Foggy

Graduated!

Graduates

Annaberg Ruins

On the campus of the University of Washington, Seattle, WA.

Leica M10r + Zeiss 50mm planar + LRc

We are expecting a very unwelcome snowstorm, starting this afternoon. I need to get a few more overseas Christmas cards and letters written, so that I can hopefully get out to post them before any snow needs clearing off my car. Will have to finish off my descriptions later. (later, evening, maybe six or so inches of snow so far.)

Luckily, the snow didn't start until I was back home from running an errand or two. I also called in at the home of a man who has been making simple wooden Christmas trees. He has not been able to work (carpentry) after having surgery in September on his shoulder (rotator cuff issue, which I can relate to). So, he decided to make Christmas trees, using Spruce, to sell, for people to decorate in any way they choose. He even made the newspaper and TV, which was great. A lot of people in his community have been buying these trees and placing them outside in their front garden to bring some Christmas cheer to all the neighbours. A few people have come forward to help him with his creations, which was nice to see. A real entrepreneur, especially in a time of his own need, and in a year unlike any other. I have a lot of respect for you, Derek. You have certainly brought your community together and given so much pleasure! Great inspiration.

calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/calgary-woodworkers-hom...

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/derek-mcgillis-christmas-t...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fdFYOXaPWs

The first time I ever saw this beautiful old house/barn was on 18 July 2016, when my daughter and I did a very long drive from Calgary to the Drumheller area. Ever since then, I have wanted to go back and see it again, and yesterday, 20 December 2020, I finally found it once again. Earlier this year, I was just a road or two away from it. I had been sure I knew exactly where it stood, but learned that I really didn't. It has been updated to celebrate graduation time for 2020 - a very different kind of year and celebration for so many young people, thanks to the ongoing pandemic that has so far lasted almost a year. Well done, to all students who have been able to continue their education, whether online or in person, or a mix of both. Well done to all the parents out there, who have somehow managed to keep going, despite the enormous challenges of 2020. I don't know how you did it! Good luck in 2021, as the pandemic continues, but now with a lot more hope.

This is what I wrote about this colourful structure when I posted a photo back in 2016:

"As well as birds and beautiful scenery, we saw several old barns, including this old house/barn. Each year, the farmer allows the graduating class from the local high school to decorate this old building in any way they wish. A fun idea and it certainly adds a splash of colour. I was absolutely fascinated to read a little bit of history from someone who was a contact of mine on Flickr two or three years ago. Her Grandmother was apparently born in this house/barn. It was later converted to a granary and now, of course, has become the canvas for local students."

Yesterday, this barn was my main destination, and that is pretty much all I saw. Funny how days can be so different. I can see so many things one day, yet another outing to a different area on a different day results in maybe only a couple of dozen photos. No sign of any Snowy Owls this day.

Clancy graduated from his beginning obedience class last night. Here is his sort of official graduation portrait

Graduates

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graduated

Graduate

Yesterday, my daughter graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Education Degree. This is her second Degree as she already completed her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the U of A.

© 2017 Paul Chan - Canada. Photos are copyrighted. All rights reserved. Pictures can not be used without explicit permission by the creator.