shutter to think

Citizen Scientists for CNN.com

I recently spent the afternoon with Rhiju Das, an assistant professor of biochemistry at Stanford University, and his team investigating RNA strands, the tiny molecules essential to life and central in the hunt for cures to diseases like cancer and AIDS. He is the co-creator of EteRNA, an online video game in which players solve puzzles that would behave in nature. Sounds complicated, and I totally do not get the whole thing but it's fascinating nonetheless. The game enables players to publish their findings in a scientific journal. The best part is that you don't have to have a background in the sciences to help solve these riddles which could lead to major medical breakthroughs.

 

To read more, click on the picture. 

 

See slideshow  below for the inner workings of EteRNA.

Maria and education reform for Mother Jones Magazine

A very compelling story about Maria, a bright teenage immigrant from El Salvador, and a year in the life of a low-performing school by writer Kristina Rizga. This is certainly a story that a documentary photographer would love to work on longer than an afternoon's portrait shoot but I'm thankful to receive the opportunity to photograph the assignment and to meet Maria and Kristina. The challenge was not to show the face and personality of Maria. But to protect her identity, I gladly accepted challenge. We spent time walking the halls of her school at Mission High in San Francisco, photographing in various places, including in one of her classrooms, pictured here.

Everything You've Heard About Failing Schools is Wrong is an in-depth article about education reform, stereotypes and dedication. 

Portrait of a Survivor

I recently met and photographed Kevin Hines, who survived a suicide off the Golden Gate Bridge, and was very touched by his story and his efforts on suicide prevention. Please read more about Kevin's story written by Louise Rafkin: Survivor of bridge jump advocates for mental healthy, safety barrier