Pilobolus directors Renée Jaworski, Matt Kent, and Emily Kent were honored to undertake the esteemed role of judges for the 16th Annual Dance Your Ph.D. contest. Organized by the American Academy for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and Science.com, this unique competition provided Ph.D. candidates with a platform to articulate their research through the medium of dance.

The standout of the year was Weliton Menário Costa from the Australian National University, whose dance presentation, "Personality, Social Environment, and Maternal-Level Effects: Insights from a Wild Kangaroo Population," earned him the coveted titles of Overall and Social Sciences Category Winner of the 2024 Dance Your Ph.D. contest.

Pilobolus was grateful to once again be selected to assess the diverse range of dance interpretations of scientific research. This intersection of science and art showcased the depth and creativity within the scientific community. The contest not only celebrates scientific inquiry but also underscores the significance of innovative communication in the academic sphere. (Kind of on-brand for a dance company named after a fungus, don’t you think?)

See how intellectual depth and artistic expression can harmoniously coexist in scholarly endeavors–click here to read more about this year’s winners and view their performances.

Top image: WELITON MENÁRIO COSTA from Science.org