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. Her 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.” She is an Associate Professor of Integrated Arts at
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where she co-created the GSAS program and
where she teaches courses in Advanced Digital Imaging, Experimental Game
Design, and Vertical Studios in Integrated and Environmental Arts. www.rpi.edu\~ruiz
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. He has an MFA from Michigan State University and teaches 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 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.