isassist's blog

I have a Ph.D. in physics and have been focused on science education and communication for the last two decades. What I like best about science is sharing it with people, sharing the understanding of the world around us through the lens of science. This made working with Raquell a good and easy fit for me. I began working with her early in the development of improvscience.

I met Raquell Holmes in May 2010, three months before improvscience was born. Raquell had been given a grant to explore combining creativity and science. She began leading workshops to analyze the ideas she was shaping into a company.

Dr. Holmes met Sandy at Boston University in the National Science Foundation sponsored program, GK-12, that prepares graduate students to become K-12 educators. Cynthia Brossman, director of LERNet, brought me in to coach students in how to perform as teachers.

I first met Dr. Holmes at the SuperComputing Conference (SC13) in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she was leading a workshop as part of the Broader Engagement program. This workshop would change my life. I was fascinated by how Raquell brought science, play and improvisation together, and experienced how looking through this lens allowed people to seamlessly engage with one another.

We create scientific cultures. Do we create ones in which we can grow and develop? Creating work environments that include who we are—passionate, curious, playful human beings—is my passion. I have, and we can, create communities where inclusion fuels excellence, where win-win scenarios are the norm and one’s expertise and offerings do not require the exclusion of others.

Movement is created through choices we make on how we live, think, walk and work in the world. The choice may be simple, the impact unknown or unknowable. Yet, we can choose to move.

How do we grow the science community as an inclusive, creative, joyous and productive enterprise for those who choose to work in it?

Neil Bardhan is a workshop leader and designer with improvscience. He has his own consulting company, Bardhan Consulting, in which he offers related, yet distinct, services.