MEET THE COLLABORATORS

Nandini Kannan (she/her) is a versatile movement artist who performs and creates intentional pieces rooted in storytelling. For almost three decades, Nandini has trained in the South Indian art form, Bharatanatyam, under Ramya Harishankar of the Arpana Dance Company, where she also assists and mentors the younger generation. Since 2016, she has expanded her movement vocabulary, understanding, and artistry through cross-training and participating in many dance styles, artist development intensives, and dancer injury prevention programs. Her artistic journey involves both traditional and experimental works with cross-art collaborations and community. Nandini has a Master’s in Public Health, working on expanding health and wellness programs that address the social determinants of health. Nandini believes that art and science are fundamentally integrated, and strives to fuse her multi-disciplinary training to make artistic movement and expression an inclusive and accessible way of healing, cultivating empathy, resiliency, advocacy, and well-being for all communities.

Donna Sternberg, Artistic Director for Donna Sternberg & Dancers, and founder of AWE & WONDER, has professionally premiered over 100 works since 1975 throughout the United States, Europe, Canada and Mexico; frequently collaborating with artists of other disciplines as well as scientists. Her work has been commissioned by institutions such as the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, California Science Center, festivals, schools and dance companies. She participated in the 2016 Venice Biennale, was chosen for the first artist/science residency at Djerassi, received the Artist-in-Community award from the Santa Monica Arts Foundation, is featured in the documentary LA Woman, published in the journal Leonardo (MIT Press), featured on KCET’s Life and Times program and is the recipient of numerous grants. She has been a guest artist for many years at Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico and served on the Santa Monica Arts Commission. 

Photo and bio coming soon.

Devavani Chatterjea (she/they) is a Bengali-American scientist, educator, writer, and policymaker. Her research explores the intersections of individual and collective bodies, exposures, and inflammation, and is animated by multidisciplinary collaborations with artists, poets, filmmakers and choreographers. Prior to joining the Carleton faculty in 2025 as the Director of Environmental Studies, Devavani worked in the biotechnology industry, and was a faculty member in Biology at Macalester College in Saint Paul, MN where they co-founded Macalester's largest interdisciplinary program focused on community and global health. Most recently they served as the Deputy Director for Chemical Safety at the White House Council on Environmental Quality in the Biden-Harris Administration leading efforts across the federal government to mitigate the harm caused by "forever chemicals" and their disproportionate impact on communities overburdened with multiple toxic exposures.