The Cultural Quotient

The Cultural
Quotient

What happens when science and culture collide

The 'Unclass' was anything but typical. It featured 32 students, 50 workshops and over ten weeks they produced the eight compelling, interactive stories below.

Machines
for Playtime

George Jetson's world
isn't so far away.

  • Katherine Dempsey
  • Ben Estus
  • Lynne Fort
  • Amy Wecker

Chemistry
of Coffee

There's more to your brew
than hitting a button.

  • Kimberly Alters
  • Roshan Nebhrajani
  • Shelly Tan
  • Lisa Xia

Manufacturing
Environmentalism

The bag you're reusing at Whole Foods isn't as green as you think.

  • Julie Kliegman
  • Nicki Koetting
  • Alex Kane Rudansky
  • Alexis N. Sanchez

Mechanics
of Music

In which biochemistry students masquerade as dancing pandas.

  • Lydia Belanger
  • Sunny Kang
  • Chenny Ng
  • Jim Sannes

Technology
in education

Classrooms are priming 6-year-olds for a lifetime of tablet use.

  • Annie Chang
  • Hilary Sharp
  • Lauren Schiappa
  • Priya Krishnakumar

Networks
of Superfans

Pop culture enthusiasts bring new life to the source material.

  • Gabe Bergado
  • Katie Gronendyke
  • Priscilla Liu
  • Laura Rosenfeld

Building Data
Behind Movement

Wearable tech and fitness apps reshape our workouts.

  • Ross Gordon
  • Sarah Lowe
  • Denise Lu
  • Rebecca Savransky

Social Problems,
Engineering Solutions

Students design products aimed at the greater good.

  • Ashley Powell
  • Noah Rawitz
  • Kevin Short
  • Vicki Wang
Professors

Jeremy Gilbert

A Medill, Northwestern faculty member who teaches, studies and practices human-centered design, usability and interactive storytelling.

Emily Withrow

Journalism faculty at @MedillSchool, erstwhile contributor to @TheAVClub. Specialist in webby-journo things. That's a technical term.

Resident Student Gurus

Sarah Adler

Sarah has designed a variety of projects for the Lab and was instrumental in developing the Lab's new branding identity. Interned at WIRED and Sports Illustrated

Tyler Fisher

Tyler is an AP-Google scholar and the creator and developer of SoundCite, joining Gannett Content for summer 2013. Formerly of Chicago Tribune News Apps.

Katie Zhu

Also an AP-Google scholar who loves computers, coffee and Beyoncé. Past: GOOD. Future: New York Times.