Meet NBCB’s Art & Science Team
Education plays an important role in North Brooklyn Community Boathouse’s mission. As we strive to give the public more access to the waterways of New York and Brooklyn, we also aim to educate the community and our members about the ecosystems living in the East River and Newtown Creek.
During any trip along the shorelines of New York City, you’ll see a wide range of habitat including geese, herons, crabs, muscles, even the occasional dolphin. But what about the organisms you can’t see?
That’s where our Art & Science Series comes in. On July 20th, at 6pm, you can learn all about a mysterious creature - the tardigrade. Not only can these microscopic eight-legged animals survive -300°F degrees, but they can also reanimate after being dehydrated for 100 years and have travelled to outer space!
Tardigrades also look like adorable miniature bears, and that’s another reason why NBCB’s Art & Science team chose this month’s art project to focus on this cute, squishy, fascinating animal.
NBCB is fortunate to have devoted member-volunteers with wide ranging backgrounds ready and willing to share their expertise. Monica Schroeder and Mary Lopez have been offering their mix of art, craft, and environmental science classes at NBCB for the last four years. These classes have been super successful, and we want you to get to know the people making it happen.
Monica Schroeder grew up along the swirling waters of the East River on the Upper East Side. At age 14, her father gave her a rowboat and she spent many happy summers rowing and swimming at their lake house.
Monica Schroeder with Franklin
With an interest in art, Monica earned a degree in Fine Arts at Hunter College, specializing in drawing. After college, her love of water and a keen interest in teaching, led her to a job working on the 1885 Tall Ship Schooner Pioneer at the South Street Seaport Museum. There she worked with school groups, teaching New York and maritime history, and sailing skills.
The Schooner Pioneer wintered in North Carolina, and Monica helped sail it down the coast from NYC. She continued to run educational and volunteer programming, and eventually became First Mate and part of the full-time crew. Teaching adults and children maritime history and sailing was a truly rewarding experience for Monica, and a highlight of her work.
Through various art jobs and continuing education courses at Pratt University, Monica has built a long and successful career as an internationally published scientific illustrator, while continuing to pursue her love of the water.
Since 2003, Monica’s been promoting human-powered boating in New York City through kayaking, encouraging volunteerism, and engaging people to think about the environmental issues that impact our waterways. She’s a founding member of NBCB and a kayak trip leader.
While growing up in Baltimore, MD, Mary Lopez always had an interest in science, art, and music. She volunteered at the now defunct insect zoo at the Carrie Murray Nature Center where she learned about entomology. She also studied black and white photography and tinkered with small musical instruments. After graduating from the University of Maryland Baltimore County with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, Mary moved to New York City where she could pursue all her passions.
Mary Lopez
While working as a scientific researcher, Mary played drums in various bands and continued practicing photography. In her 365 project, she took a self-portrait every day for a year. As an avid crafter, Mary can make just about anything including watercolors, zippered pouches, embroidery, quilts, and comics.
Mary has been a member and volunteer at NBCB since 2013 where she’s helped organize many epic parties and events. By day, she’s a Research Program Coordinator at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Her past work involved producing GMP grade gene therapy vectors, researching and developing HIV viral vector vaccines, and preparing brain tissue for studies associated with schizophrenia.
Mary has taught classes about oysters, sea squirts, and octopuses. Her love of education drives her to share her knowledge with the community and other members of NBCB, hoping to engage and inspire art and science.
You can sign up for Monica and Mary’s next Art & Science class on tardigrades via our calendar.
Event Details:
Thursday July 20, 2023 6-8:30 pm
Focal Point Beer Co. 43-50 12th Street, Queens, NY 11101. This meets in Long Island City outdoors at the public mall picnic tables. Food and drinks are available at the bar and near by restaurants.
This event is FREE, registration required.
This entry was posted on July 1, 2023 by admin.