World of Plankton team
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Bios:
Kathleen Ruiz, Ph.D.
abd is an internationally exhibiting media artist
who works with simulation, games, photography and sculpture exploring the
resonance of scientific and technological issues in culture. Ruiz’ current research is centered on
simulation, perspective and empathy - exploring first-person experience,
intentionality, and the possibilities for simulation media to approach a
non-colonizing understanding of “other.” Kathleen is an Associate Professor
of Arts and Games and Experiential Media (GEM) at Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute where she co-created the GSAS program and Eco Resilience Global
Games Research group. Kathleen teaches courses in Advanced Digital Imaging,
Experimental Game Design, and Graduate Vertical Studios in Integrated and
Environmental Arts.
https://sites.google.com/view/eco-resilience/home
Kathy High is an
interdisciplinary artist and educator working with time
based arts, visual arts and biology. High is Professor of Video and
New Media in the Department of the Arts, at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
in Troy, NY - a department specializing in integrated experimental arts
practices.
Jefferson Kielwagen is an
artist and activist from Brazil. Formally in the Art Department at Rensselaer
in Troy, NY, he was project director of the first pride parade in Joinville,
Brazil, where he also helped conceive and organize the 2015 conference
INVENTANDO GENEROS (Inventing Genders). His art practice deals with issues of
identity, violence and religion. He has exhibited internationally, including
the 2013 and 2015 editions of the Ghetto Biennale, in Haiti.
Chuck Stewart is a
Professor and Head of the Department of Computer Science at Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute. His research is in computer vision, with applications
in ecology and environmental conservation. See IBEIS project (Image-Based
Ecological Information System).
Hendrik Weidman is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in
Computer Science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he is using
machine learning for the automatic identification of plankton species from
images captured by an underwater camera.
Sandra
Nierzwicki-Bauer is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and
Director of Rensselaer's Darrin Fresh Water Institute on the shore of Lake
George, N.Y. She is internationally
known for her work in the molecular studies of microbial and picoeukaryote
communities in lakes and rivers, studies of invasive species, and expertise
in water resource management. She has been involved with and led many large
and long term interdisciplinary research projects
involving water quality in Lake George, acid rain in the Adirondacks, and
invasive species nationally.
Jeremy Farrell is a Postdoctoral Associate
working at Rensselaer's Darrin Fresh Water Institute. His research is focused
on freshwater ecology using traditional and advanced sensor technologies and
big data analyses. He has carried out ground-breaking studies that use hydroacoustics for detection of the invasive Eurasian
Watermilfoil, as well as in situ real-time sensors for studying water
quality, water circulation, and contaminants into Lake George through storm
water run-off.
Lawrence
Eichler is a research
scientist with the Darrin Fresh Water Institute, an environmental research
division of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute located on Lake George in Bolton
Landing, New York. Larry’s research
interests include aquatic chemistry and biology with a focus on aquatic
plants, particularly the effects of exotic invasive species on native plant
assemblages.
Rick Relyea, Ph.D., is former Executive Director,
Darrin Fresh Water Institute, Director of The Jefferson Project, and David M.
Darrin ’40 Senior Endowed Chair, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute.
Brian Mattes is a Senior Research Specialist
currently working in Dr. Rick Relyea’s lab at Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute. He has a variety of research interests, ranging from freshwater
ecology to developmental biology. He specializes in zooplankton and other
aquatic micro-organisms.
Matthew S. Schuler, is a postdoctoral researcher working in Dr. Rick
Relyea’s lab at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute who studies how ecological
factors alter patterns of species richness across
spatial and temporal scales. Much of Matthew’s research addresses questions
related to the roles of resource abundance, resource heterogeneity, and
assessing the spatial scales at which resource heterogeneity becomes
important. He has recently started investigating the roles of environmental
stressors on aquatic community diversity and function.
Justin Cirigliano is a
member of the class of 2016 at RPI, with a dual major in Games and Simulation
Arts and Sciences and Computer Science. His interest in ecology stems from
spending summers at a nature center, and he has made biologically-themed
games before, but the World of Plankton
is the most realistic simulation he’s had a part in making so far.
Leo Antelyes is a member of the class of 2016
at Rensselaer. He majored in Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences and was
responsible for the visual effects programming of the World of Plankton. Now he is working in California as a software
engineer in the satellite communication industry.
Evan-Daniel
Rose-González is a
New York-based composer and improviser working under the name Opaque Body.
His past work includes the soundtrack and sound design for Arcane Kids' Zineth as well
as an assortment of solo and ensemble work including Flo: The Watershed Project.
Christina Chiusano is a recent graduate from
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a degree in Electronic Arts,
concentrating in Visual Arts and Animation. She is a part-time freelance
artist working to further develop her skill set in two-dimensional and
three-dimensional digital mediums. Much of her work is governed by a devout
interest in animals and environmental science.
Ian Stead is a well-known international game
designer and artist who graduated from RPI in 2007 majoring in Electronic
Media Arts & Communication.
Philip Cioni is a member of the class of 2017 at RPI, dual-majoring
in Computer Science, and Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences. He has
worked on multiple games, with World of
Plankton being the first one officially released to the public. Philip
has always seen games as a tool for learning, and
hopes World of Plankton will inspire others to
share his passion.
Connor Fahy is a Computer Science and Games
and Simulation Arts and Sciences dual major at RPI. He’s a jack of all trades
programmer with a passion for making game AI and simulations.
Julius Lee is an animator
recently graduated from RPI. He worked as a project manager for the World of
Plankton project for half of a year.
Andrew Morris is a recent RPI graduate and
joined World of Plankton close to
its inception. He worked as a programmer and designer for the project in
2015.