There was a time Merritt Moore had to hide who she was, what she loved, and the two very different paths she was determined to pursue professionally: physics and ballet. Science colleagues doubted Moore’s commitment to physics, despite her exceptional work at Harvard and Oxford, and the art world questioned her dedication to dance; it was hard for some to comprehend that one person could be fully committed to two divergent fields.
But at NYU Abu Dhabi, Moore is her whole, unique self.
“Here, I feel like I can be completely free,” said Moore, a Distinguished Artist in Residence and Adjunct Professor of Practice. “I love NYU Abu Dhabi, because they really care about multi-disciplinary work.”
Moore has been at NYUAD for three years. She teaches Creative Robotics and Tech, where she seamlessly integrates her passion for creative expression, born in professional ballet, and her love for science to benefit the students. While not explicitly a physics class, the curriculum focuses broadly on technology, introducing students to coding, collaborative robots, music software, 3D printing, and machine learning. Moore’s primary goal for students is to build their confidence in mastering any technology and to provide a space for creativity.
“The first day, I’ll bring a collaborative robot to class; most students have never seen a robot before, some of the class haven't even coded before,” Moore said. “It’s intimidating. I show them how to sequence it. I just get them hands-on. I’ll tell them to make it play music. They'll have it play the piano. We'll do a little machine learning, learning about pose estimation. It's how my mom fed me broccoli, feeding me veggies underneath a lot of cheese. So, I feed them technology and science, but underneath a lot of fun and creativity.”
Moore’s foray into coding and dancing with robots began during the COVID-19 pandemic when she found herself unable to dance with human partners. Undeterred, she turned to machines, exploring the possibilities of human-robot interaction through dance performances. What began as a curiosity blossomed into a profound exploration of the future of human-robot relationships and the ethical considerations surrounding them.
“I do think dancing with a robot is sort of a glimpse into the future of what those relationships might look like, and whether we are ready,” Moore posed. “What are our thoughts on this? What kind of conversations do we need to have?”
Today, Moore continues to perform and collaborate with robots, pushing the boundaries of artistic expression and technological innovation. Her multi-disciplinary work has taken her to prestigious venues worldwide, including the World Economic Forum, the National Theater of Belgrade, and the Harvard Art Lab.
As she looks ahead, Moore focuses on exploring the intricacies of human-robot interaction, with upcoming performances at the International Conference on Robotics and Automation, the AI for Good conference in Geneva, and the World Expo in Japan.
Moore's story is a testament to the power of embracing one's multifaceted passions and breaking free from societal constraints. Her journey inspires those seeking to forge their own unique paths, blending seemingly disparate disciplines into a harmonious tapestry of innovation and artistic expression.
