RUTH DROPPO

Department of Geological Sciences, Indiana University Bloomington IN 47405
Phone: 812-855-0154 (office) fax: 812-855-7961
email: rdroppo@indiana.edu
website: http://mypage.iu.edu/~rdroppo

Experience

2003 to present: Collaborator, NASA Astrobiology Institute grant, "Biosustainable Energy and Nutrient Cycles in the Deep Subsurface of Earth and Mars" Artistic Consultant for Digital Media/Director, IPTAI Media Group, Indiana-Princeton-Tennessee Astrobiology Initiative (IPTAI) NASA Astrobiology Institute Lead Team 2006-present Indiana University Department of Geological Sciences, Graphic Design Specialist 2000-2006 Indiana University Department of Geological Sciences, Faculty Assistant Senior 1989-2000 Indiana University Department of Geological Sciences, Faculty Secretary

Responsible for all aspects of presentation media in manuscripts, grants, and web design utilizing Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator for 2-D projects and presentations, Macromedia Dreamweaver and Flash for web design, and slide presentations on cross-platform venues. Other software: Final Cut Pro and Adobe After Effects for video/audio media. Macintosh and PC platforms.

Projects

2004-present: Artist and director, IPTAI Media Group, developing an interactive DVD entitled, "Exploring Deep Sub-Surface Life. Earth Analogues for Possible LIfe on Mars: Lessons and Activities" for an Education and Public Outreach project, NASA Astrobiology Institute. Other group members: Lisa Pratt (PI), Peter Suchecki (videography, animation, post-production), Wayne Britton (writer), and Glenn Simonelli (writer).

Responsible for storyboard workflow, post-production with Peter Suchecki, graphic design, maintaining accessibility (508) compliance for hearing- and visually-impaired communities, developing field testing sites for the work in progress.

Website design and management:

•  IPTAI Indiana-Princeton-Tennessee Astrobiology Initiative at: http://www.indiana.edu/~deeplife (2003-present) for NASA Astrobiology Institute grant, L.M. Pratt PI.
•  Life at the Edge of Hydration at: http://www.indiana.edu/~lifeedge/ (2002-present), for Packard Foundation grant, L.M. Pratt, CoPI.
•  BSES, Indiana University program, Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science at http://www.indiana.edu/~bses/ Dr. Bruce Douglas, PI (2001-present)
•  G105, Earth Our Habitable Planet at http://www.indiana.edu/~pratg105/ (1997-2004)
•  G225 Earth Materials at http://www.indiana.edu/~g225 (2005)
•  SAVA Database Project at http://www.indiana.edu/~sava (2006)

•  Logo design for IPTAI website and project (sound: Peter Suchecki; 3D: Tom Wade Murphy)
•  Logo design for Life at the End of Hydration website/project
•  Logo design for BSES: Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, Departments of Geological Sciences and SPEA, Dr. Bruce Douglas, Director

Lectures, Field Trips, Meetings

Droppo, R., Suchecki, P.C., Simonelli, G., and Pratt, L.M., 2006. “Exploring Deep-Subsurface Life: a Workbook and DVD for High School Instruction” Poster presentation, Astronomical Society of the Pacific Annual Meeting, September, Baltimore MD.

Droppo, R., Suchecki, P.C., and Pratt, L.M., 2006: The Intersection of Science and Art at Lupin Mine: The Poetics of Place. Abstract, oral presentation AbSciCon, Marcg, Washington DC. Collaboration with P. Suchecki.

Droppo, R., Pratt, L.M., Pfiffner, S.M., Murphy, T.W., Simonelli, G., Suchecki, P., and Mattner, M., 2005:  Imagining Deep Sub-Surface Life: An Interactive DVD Tool for High School Instruction and Museum Demonstration. Astrobiology Magazine V. 5, p. 244. Abstract, oral presentation, NAI Annual Meeting, Boulder CO, April 2005. (PDF)

Droppo, R., 2004:  IPTAI website premiere, IPTAI organizational meeting, Hilton Lakes, Dallas TX.

September, 2003: Field trip to Oregon Basalt Plateau with Dr. Lisa M. Pratt.  Digital Media liaison between scientific and IU Digital Media personnel.

Artist's Statement

Within the guidelines of the NASA Astrobiology Institute collaboration, the IPTAI group is working on multimedia projects for Education and Public Outreach. In the years that I have worked with the Indiana University biogeochemists, we have developed a language that facilitates a fluid translation between graphic art and scientific processes. Over time we have produced graphs, maps, and photographs to construct 2-dimensional presentation media, and now we are using video, audio, and interactive software to explore how movement and voice can bring scientific inquiry closer to the public mind.