Paquette Conveys Her Love of Science, Dance to Franklin STEAM Students Via Musical Magnetism

Carmen Paquette tap dancing. (Image courtesy of William Frederking.)
Carmen Paquette tap dancing. (Image courtesy of William Frederking.)

"As a kid, I found science fascinating; it felt like a good mystery book, and the more I learned, the more I understood about the world, as well as myself.” – Carmen Paquette

“I have always loved to dance. My parents constantly had music playing in the house growing up, and they often tell me that I came into the world dancing.” – Carmen Paquette

March 9, 2021

Carmen Paquette loves science. (Her dad, a material scientist, used to quiz her on the names and atomic numbers of the elements.) Carmen Paquette also loves tap dancing. (Her parents claim she came into the world dancing.) And she’s particularly passionate about expressing science via the arts—specifically, tap dance. So, when I-MRSEC planners decided that their spring 2021 edition of the Musical Magnetism curriculum at Franklin STEAM Academy would emphasize using the arts to convey science ideas, it makes sense that they would invite the summer 2019 I-MRSEC REU participant back to be involved. So, on February 18th, the materials scientist/professional tap dancer shared how she combines her two passions—science and dance—using dance to illustrate scientific concepts.

Poised to begin her career in Materials Science as a consultant with the Accenture company the week following her presentation at Musical Magnetism, Paquette shares why she took time out to participate in the program:

Carmen Paquette shares with Franklin middle schoolers during I-MRSEC's Musical Magnetism program.
Carmen Paquette shares with Franklin middle schoolers during I-MRSEC's Musical Magnetism program.

“I believe in it!” she declares. “I am so happy that programs like Musical Magnetism exist, and I will support them in any way that I can. In this case, Pam (Pamela Martin, Outreach Coordinator at I-MRSEC) reached out to me, looking for people interested in providing students with a real-world example of what it might look like to "pursue STEAM" in some combination or another, and I was very excited to contribute.”

Paquette’s session with Franklin seventh and eighth graders began with an introduction to some highlights of her exploration of science, such as her participation in NASA's Community Aerospace Scholar (NCAS) program, an in-person workshop at Wallops Island, and that she was then invited to return to help facilitate the NCAS program the following year.

Carmen Paquette dancing as a little girl (Image courtesy of Carmen Paquette.)
Carmen Paquette dancing as a little girl (Image courtesy of Carmen Paquette.)

She also shared highlights of her dance career. For instance, she took studio dance lessons throughout her elementary and high school years, even teaching her sister dances she had choreographed—which they then performed for their parents. More recently, she co-founded a dance company, "Broads on Boards,” which performs throughout the city.

However, Paquette is particularly passionate about somehow synthesizing two seemingly disparate things—art and science—by using the medium of art, particularly tap dance, to illustrate science. So she apprised students and showed them some clips of a dance she’d created, "Momentary Magnetism" which does just that. Paquette terms it “a communication of physics concepts through the unconventional medium of tap dance.” In fact, she had gotten the idea for the dance during another I-MRSEC outreach, a summer research experience she was involved with in 2019: I-MRSEC’s REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates). After learning about magnetism while researching the synthesis of antiferromagnetic materials, she created a dance about it. Following is her description of the thought processes she went through while choreographing it. “I took the entire process, from the heat gradient being the music and then the magnetic moments being the rhythm…and I took it all and translated it into a piece.”

After explaining to Franklin middle schoolers how she’d used body movement to exemplify the motion of atoms, she then shared with them a video clip of the dance she’d created. In the closing moments of her presentation, she answered students’ questions about both her career path and dance.

In addition to giving her the idea for the Momentary Magnetism dance, her I-MRSEC summer research experience also changed her paradigm regarding the compartmentalization most folks do vis-à-vis their vocation vs. their avocations. She discovered that there’s a new acronym in town, STEAM, which describes the incorporation of the ARTs into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics), which could pave the way for her to incorporate an amalgam of tap and science into her future. Upon experiencing this epiphany during the REU, she had told herself, “I want to combine the science and the art aspects of what I do, and I think it would be really cool.” Since then, she’s emphasized STEAM in many of her outreach activities.

Image of Carmen Paquette street performing with her Broads on Boards dance  company. (Image courtesy of Carmen Paquette.
Image of Carmen Paquette street performing with her Broads on Boards dance company. (Image courtesy of Carmen Paquette.)

Not surprisingly, her parents had actually inculcated into her the building blocks for embracing STEAM as a child. For one, her mom is a teacher.

“Because of her encouraging influence, my little sister and I have been engaging in creative activities since I can remember,” says Paquette. She recalls that her dad built them a puppet theatre when she was maybe 4 years old.

“We went through the entire process of building it together. Sadly, I was not allowed to use the power tools,” she complains.  “But once it was built, the entire family painted it, made puppets from socks and yarn, and put on shows for my sister's dolls. We created stories for our toys, built cardboard houses, and spent hours in the backyard playing imaginary games.”

And of course, she also took after her dad, the material scientist, with his pocket periodic table, which he would use to quiz her and her sister on the names and atomic numbers of the elements.

“It practically goes without saying that thanks to my parents, I've always been able to view these two traditionally conflicting concepts (science and dance) as cohesive and complementary aspects of my life," she concedes.

Carmen Paquette shares a slide with Franklin students about learning how to weld.
Carmen Paquette shares a slide with Franklin students during which she's learning how to weld.

A slide Paquette shared with Franklin students about how the two sides of the brain work are used when doing science and art.
A slide Paquette shared with Franklin students about how the two sides of the brain are used when doing science and art.

And now, via outreach efforts like Musical Magnetism, she hopes to share with young people some of what she experienced as a child—especially her ideology concerning incorporating science and the arts. “I hope to blur the lines of what traditional science and artistic practices look like—so much so that crossover is normal and encouraged,” ” she acknowledges. Plus, concerning her work with young people, she also hopes to instill confidence—regarding both science and art—“in order to reduce the use of phrases and thoughts such as, "I can't do math." or "I'm not artistic." These thoughts limit what is possible for us as individuals, and as a collective.”

According to Paquette, her notion behind exposing young kids to STEM and STEAM is this: “Exposing anyone to the sciences, technology, engineering, art, and math is exposing them to the way we, as a society, have come to think about and understand the world. This exposure allows for the development of educated opinions based in fact. It is imperative that people of all ages are exposed to these building blocks of thought and understanding, but especially young children.” 

In fact, Paquette's plans for the immediate future definitely include STEAM outreach. For example, of her stint as a consultant with the tech company Accenture, she says, “I expect this opportunity to enhance my STEAM skillset.” She also plans to continue to support the tap dance community in Chicago and worldwide.

Carmen Paquette at NASA's NCAS program. (Image courtesy of Carmen Paquette.
Carmen Paquette at NASA's NCAS program. (Image courtesy of Carmen Paquette.)

“It is my goal to bring new audiences into the fascinating worlds of tap dance and science alike. I will continue to support educational outreach programs that promote STEAM initiatives in education.”

Paquette’s appearance at Musical Magnetism isn’t her first incursion into educational outreach programs. For instance, she's taught in the Afterschool Matters program as a part of M.A.D.D. Rhythms (Making a Difference Dancing Rhythms) which is a performing troupe as well as a non-profit seeking to use dance as a resource for underserved youth in Chicago.

In another upcoming STEAM event, a video of the dance Paquette choreographed about her REU research will premier at the Science Arts Festival in April. It features both Paquette and her mentor, Daniel Shoemaker, who talk about some of the science in the piece that will be shown with the dance video.


Story by Elizabeth Innes, Communications Specialist, I-STEM Education Initiative. Photos by Elizabeth Innes, unless noted otherwise.

For more I-STEM web articles about I-MRSEC, see:

More: 6-8 Outreach, Franklin STEAM Academy, I-MRSEC, STEAM/SciArt, Underserved, 2021

During Pacquette's Zoom presentation, she shows a photo of her at Illinois in Daniel Shoemaker’s lab during her REU experience in the summer of 2019. She's standing next to the vertical Bridgman furnace that she built. (Image courtesy of Carmen Paquette).




SOLIDarity EXperiences (SOLIDEX) through the Eyes of Children

What do children aged 11-13 in two countries think about solidarity?
Full Story

Students launch ASL STEM Vocabulary App Company

Students launch ASL STEM Vocabulary App Company
Full Story

Innovation, Inspiration on display at the Undergraduate Research Symposium

Undergraduate Research Week took place April 23-29, 2023, and culminated Thursday, April 27, 2023
Full Story

What would you like to see – 3D printers? Magnets? Solar-powered racing cars? Robobrawl?

March 28, 2023
EOH occurs Friday, March 31, and Saturday, April 1, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
Full Story

Tour of Illinois’ Materials Research Lab through I-MRSEC sparks Franklin students’ interest in Materials Science

March 1, 2023
Students from the Champaign middle school had a tour of the Material Research Laboratory (MRL) in early February.
Full Story

Nobel Project’s End-of-Year Zoom Bash Recaps Learning

February 1, 2022
The STEM Illinois Nobel Project held a special, end-of-the-year Zoom event celebrating its participating students’ achievements.
Full Story

It’s not magic, it’s physics

January 26, 2022
In Franklin STEAM Academy, Musical Magnetism program makes STEM fun, approachable.
Full Story

Program prepares STEM educators to teach all students

November 30, 2021
This summer, a group of educators gathered to learn about engaging STEM activities they can do with their students.
Full Story

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program

November 11, 2021
Undergrads get a taste of research through I-MRSEC’s REU program.
Full Story

Goldstein’s Renaissance Engineering Summer Camp

November 1, 2021
Goldstein’s Renaissance Engineering Summer Camp Incorporates Art, Design, Mechatronics, and Mentoring
Full Story

TechTogether Chicago to Redefine the Hacker Stereotype

July 10, 2021
New workshops that can help inspire students to pursue careers in technology..
Full Story

Aerospace Engineering Launches Virtual Summer Camps to Pique Students’ Interest in Aero.

July 2, 2021
Design an aircraft then watch it soar after launching it with a huge rubber band. Build a Mars lander to safely transport a real egg, then test the contraption by dropping it from a second story window.
Full Story

Undergrads Experience Materials Science Research Courtesy of the I-MRSEC REU

June 16, 2021
Ten undergraduate students are spending the summer of 2021 discovering what research is like.
Full Story

MatSE Afterschool Academy

MatSE Afterschool Academy

June 14, 2021
MatSE Afterschool Academy to Introduce Students to Materials Science and Beyond.
Full Story

Taylor Tucker Embraces Multidisciplinary Interest

Taylor Tucker Embraces Multidisciplinary Interest

June 14, 2021
Taylor Tucker Embraces Multidisciplinary Interest While Researching Task Collaboration.
Full Story

Exposes Franklin Middle Schoolers to Science, CS

What Studying Engineering at Illinois is Like?

May 25, 2021
NSBE’s Michaela Horn Exposes Franklin Middle Schoolers to Science, CS, and What Studying Engineering at Illinois is Like.
Full Story

Jenny Saves a Convertible.

Children’s-Book-Writing Duo/

May 19, 2021
Convertibles and Thunderstorms—Children’s-Book-Writing Duo on Their Way Thanks to Illinois Training and Encouragement from Mentors.
Full Story

Improve Learning in Engineering

Improve Learning in Engineering

May 17, 2021
Liebenberg Espouses Mini-Projects to Engage Students Emotionally, Improve Learning in Engineering.
Full Story

Joshua Whitely makes an adjustment to the 3D Bioprinter during the demo.

BIOE435 Capstone Projects

May 12, 2021
BIOE435 Capstone Projects - BIOE Seniors Use Knowledge/Skills to Problem Solve.
Full Story

Elani and Gonzalo shine a UV light on a rose that has absorbed a solution that has made it fluorescent.

Illinois Scientists Shine a (UV) Light on Fluorescence

May 7, 2021
What is fluorescence? What causes it?
Full Story

Joshua Whitely makes an adjustment to the 3D Bioprinter during the demo.

HackIllinois 2021 “Rekindled Connections” With The Tech Community

May 5, 2021
Annual student hackathon HackIllinois with the aim of developing projects on current problems facing society.
Full Story

A Shane Mayer-Gawlik image of the Bridger Aurora, part of his Night Skies photography collection exhibited at the Art-Science Festival.

The Art-Science Festival

April 26, 2021
Illinois Art-Science Festival: Illuminating the Universe...from the Quantum World to the Cosmos.
Full Story

Joshua Whitely makes an adjustment to the 3D Bioprinter during the demo.

Illinois Engineering Seniors Prepared to Change the World

April 22, 2021
Ready. Set. Go! Illinois Engineering Seniors Prepared to Change the World.
Full Story

HML 2021 Virtual Health

HML 2021 Virtual Health

April 19, 2021
Make-a-Thon Gives Citizen Scientists a Shot at Making Their Health-Related Innovations a Reality.
Full Story

I-MRSEC’s Music Video

I-MRSEC’s Music Video

April 7, 2021
I-MRSEC’s Music Video for EOH ’21 Plugs Graphene, 2D Materials
Full Story

Health Make-a-Thon Orientation

HML 2021 Health Orientation

March 30, 2021
HML 2021 Health Make-a-Thon Orientation Prepares Finalists for Competition.
Full Story

Andrea Perry shows Franklin students how to take apart the magnetic drawing board they received in their kit

Musical Magnetism

March 25, 2021
Musical Magnetism: Encouraging Franklin Middle Schoolers to Express Science Via the Arts.
Full Story

Carmen Paquette street performing.

Love of Science

March 9, 2021
Paquette Conveys Her Love of Science, Dance to Franklin STEAM Students Via Musical Magnetism.
Full Stroy

An Engineering Exploration participant exhibits the tower they built as part of the engineering challenge related to Civil Engineering

Engineering Exploration

March 2, 2021
SWE’s Engineering Exploration Outreach Lives Up to Its Name.

ChiS&E’s Family STEM Day

ChiS&E’s Family STEM Day

February 23, 2021
Helps Chicago Youngsters Progress Along the STEM Pipeline Toward Engineering.

Kathny Walsh

Kathy Walsh

February 17, 2021
On Her First Foray into STEAM, Kathy Walsh Acquaints Franklin Students with Microscopy, Haiku.

ChiS&E student

ChiS&E CPS Students

January 19, 2021
Illinois Undergrads Encourage ChiS&E CPS Students Toward Possible Careers in Engineering.

I-MRSEC’s Music Video

CISTEME365 Provides Year-Round PD/Community

January 4, 2021
to Illinois Teachers in Support of Informal STEM Education Efforts to Underserved Students.