29 October 2013

Science-themed Halloween costumes: the photos themselves

Posted by Olivia Ambrogio

By Olivia V. Ambrogio

It is with great pleasure that we present, for your delectation and inspiration, a gallery of science-themed Halloween costumes:

 

For Halloween last year, Janet Nestlerode (Ecologist, US EPA) dressed up as Interplanet Janet ("….she’s a galaxy girl, solar system Miss from a future wor-hrllld, She travels like a rocket with her comet team. And there's never been a planet Janet hasn't seen…") from School House Rock (see http://www.schooltube.com/video/ca987dd0b31edcc8331b/ for a  refresher). Photo  by Jill Awkerman.

For Halloween last year, Janet Nestlerode (Ecologist, US EPA) dressed up as Interplanet Janet (“….she’s a galaxy girl, solar system Miss from a future wor-hrllld, She travels like a rocket with her comet team. And there’s never been a planet Janet hasn’t seen…”) from School House Rock (see http://www.schooltube.com/video/ca987dd0b31edcc8331b/ for a refresher). Photo by Jill Awkerman.

 

 

Featured here is a comprehensive solar system with sun and the planets, worn by Kathleen Thatcher. The sun is displayed with a mask and the planets hang surrounding the sun. Thatcher chose a dark pair of pajamas (“because pajamas are warm and comfortable,” Thatcher said) that have stars all over them to represent the galaxy that surrounds the solar system. Photo by Russell Weller.

Featured here is a comprehensive solar system with sun and the planets, worn by Kathleen Thatcher. The sun is displayed with a mask and the planets hang surrounding the sun. Thatcher chose a dark pair of pajamas (“because pajamas are warm and comfortable,” Thatcher said) that have stars all over them to represent the galaxy that surrounds the solar system. Photo by Russell Weller.

 

 

Ruth Carmichael and her son wore costumes that celebrate one of the world’s greatest arthropods: he was dressed as an anatomically correct, tagged male American Horseshoe crab (note both dorsal and ventral aspects are correct), and she dressed as a lab technician from a biomedical facility. The blue blood of the horseshoe crab is used to produce Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL), a drug used to test medical supplies and equipment to prevent human infection. Photo by Ruth Carmichael.

Ruth Carmichael and her son wore costumes that celebrate one of the world’s greatest arthropods: he was dressed as an anatomically correct, tagged male American Horseshoe crab (note both dorsal and ventral aspects are correct), and she dressed as a lab technician from a biomedical facility. The blue blood of the horseshoe crab is used to produce Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL), a drug used to test medical supplies and equipment to prevent human infection. Photo by Ruth Carmichael.

 

 

Sylvia G. Dee is dressed as Ms. Frizzle, the eclectic and vibrant teacher from the Magic School Bus educational TV show! In this episode, the Magic School Bus explored the solar system. Dee is a Ph.D. Candidate and College Doctoral Fellow studying climate dynamics at the University of Southern California. Photo courtesy of Sylvia G. Dee.

Sylvia G. Dee is dressed as Ms. Frizzle, the eclectic and vibrant teacher from the Magic School Bus educational TV show! In this episode, the Magic School Bus explored the solar system. Dee is a Ph.D. Candidate and College Doctoral Fellow studying climate dynamics at the University of Southern California. Photo courtesy of Sylvia G. Dee.

 

 

Eve Schlüter and Mark Sinopoli are dressed as climate change. Photo courtesy of Eve Schlüter and Mark Sinopoli.

Eve Schlüter and Mark Sinopoli are dressed as climate change. Photo courtesy of Eve Schlüter and Mark Sinopoli.

 

 

This is Lindsey Richardson, M.S. Meteorology, who also enjoys electrical engineering. Her Vacuum Tube costume includes battery operated lights, a "plastic" tube shell, and an "exhaust" tip. Photo courtesy of Lindsey Richardson.

This is Lindsey Richardson, M.S. Meteorology, who also enjoys electrical engineering. Her Vacuum Tube costume includes battery operated lights, a “plastic” tube shell, and an “exhaust” tip. Photo courtesy of Lindsey Richardson.

 

 

Kathleen Thatcher, a self-titled “Earth Nerd,” is dressed as a stellar dendrite snowflake, complete with snowflake pajamas and snowflake jewelry. “This costume is correct with its six-sided, hexagonal structure. I'm one large stellar dendrite that makes up a big snow storm,” Thatcher said. Her husband, Zack Thatcher, is in the photograph as frosty the snowman with corncob pipe and all. “I thought the two costumes complemented one another quite well. Stellar dendrites make great snowman-making snow,” Kathleen said. Photo courtesy of Kathleen Thatcher.

Kathleen Thatcher, a self-titled “Earth Nerd,” is dressed as a stellar dendrite snowflake, complete with snowflake pajamas and snowflake jewelry. “This costume is correct with its six-sided, hexagonal structure. I’m one large stellar dendrite that makes up a big snow storm,” Thatcher said. Her husband, Zack Thatcher, is in the photograph as frosty the snowman with corncob pipe and all. “I thought the two costumes complemented one another quite well. Stellar dendrites make great snowman-making snow,” Kathleen said. Photo courtesy of Kathleen Thatcher.

 

 

Last Halloween, Kasey Todd was the planet Mars. Todd had a mini Curiosity rover in Gale Crater on her shoulder, Valles Marineris on her back, the Tharsis Montes and Olympus Mons on her front, an "ice cap," and Phobos and Deimos earrings. Todd is a planetary geologist, recently graduated with an M.S. from Northern Illinois University. Photo by Philip Kenroy.

Last Halloween, Kasey Todd was the planet Mars. Todd had a mini Curiosity rover in Gale Crater on her shoulder, Valles Marineris on her back, the Tharsis Montes and Olympus Mons on her front, an “ice cap,” and Phobos and Deimos earrings. Todd is a planetary geologist, recently graduated with an M.S. from Northern Illinois University. Photo by Philip Kenroy.

 

UPDATE:

Halloween party, 1989:  Larry Granroth and Janice Cook-Granroth both worked at The University of Iowa department of physics and astronomy for the Voyager PWS plasma wave investigation.  Larry was Voyager 2 with the PWS instrument (unseen) strapped to his chest (a small cassette player that would play plasma wave sounds) and TV "rabbit ears" antennas as the PWS antennas.  Janice was Neptune.  The Voyager 2 Neptune flyby had occurred previously that Summer on August 25.

Halloween party, 1989: Larry Granroth and Janice Cook-Granroth both worked at The University of Iowa department of physics and astronomy for the Voyager PWS plasma wave investigation. Larry was Voyager 2 with the PWS instrument (unseen) strapped to his chest (a small cassette player that would play plasma wave sounds) and TV “rabbit ears” antennas as the PWS antennas. Janice was Neptune. The Voyager 2 Neptune flyby had occurred previously that summer on August 25.

 

Thanks to all those who submitted their photos!

 

– Olivia Ambrogio is an AGU Strategic Communications Specialist and coordinator of AGU’s Expert Outreach Network