Experience

2003 – present: Collaborator, NASA Astrobiology Institute grant, Biosustainable Energy and Nutrient Cycles in the Deep Subsurface of Earth and Mars

IT Coordinator/Artistic Consultant for Digital Media, Indiana-Princeton-Tennessee Astrobiology Initiative (IPTAI) NASA Astrobiology Institute Lead Team

2006-present Indiana University Department of Geological Sciences,  Graphic Design Specialist

2000-2006 Indiana University Department of Geological Sciences,
Faculty Assistant Senior

1989-2000 Indiana University Department of Geological Sciences,
Faculty Secretary

Responsible for all aspects of presentation media in manuscripts, grants, and web design utilizing Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign for 2-D projects and presentations, Macromedia Dreamweaver and Flash for web design, and PowerPoint for slide presentations on cross-platform venues. Other software: Final Cut Pro and Adobe After Effects for video/audio media. Macintosh and PC platforms.

2004-present: Artist and director, IPTAI Media Group, developing a digital ineractive video DVD entitled, "Exploring Deep Sub-Surface Life: Lessons and Activities" for an Education and Public Outreach project, NASA Astrobiology Institute (other group members: Lisa Pratt, Peter Suchecki, Wayne Britton, and Glenn Simonelli).

Responsible for storyboard workflow, post-production with Peter Suchecki, graphic design, maintaining accessibility (508) compliance for hearing- and visually-impaired communities, developing field testing sites for the work in progress.

Website design :
•  IPTAI Indiana-Princeton-Tennessee Astrobiiology Initiative at: http://www.indiana.edu/~deeplife (2003-present) for NASA Astrobiology Institute grant, L.M. Pratt PI.

•  Life at the Edge of Hydration at: http://www.indiana.edu/~lifeedge (2002-present), for Packard Foundation grant, L.M. Pratt, CoPI.

•  BSES, Indiana University program, Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science at http://www.indiana.edu/~bses (2001-present)

•  G105, Earth Our Habitable Planet at http://www.indiana.edu/~pratg105/ (1997-present)

•  G225 Earth Materials at http://www.indiana.edu/~g225 (2005)

• Logo design for IPTAI website and graphic materials (with sound from Peter Suchecki;
3D animation by Tom Wade Murphy)
• Logo design for Life at the End of Hydration website/project
• Logo design for BSES: Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, Departments of Geological Sciences and SPEA, Dr. Bruce Douglas, Director

Poster and Oral Presentations
Droppo, R., Suchecki, P.C., Pratt, L.M., and Simonelli, G., 2006: Exploring Deep-Subsurface Life: a Workbook and DVD for High School Instruction. Astronomical Society of the Pacific Meeting, Baltimore MD, September, 2006

Droppo, R., Suchecki, P.C., and Pratt, L.M., 2006: The Intersection of Science and Art at Lupin Mine: The Poetics of Place. Abstract, oral presentation with video, AbSciCon, March 2006, Washington DC.

Droppo, R., Pratt, L.M., Pfiffner, S.M., Murphy, T.W., Simonelli, G., Suchecki, P., and Mattner, M., 2005: Imagining Deep Sub-Surface Life: An Interactive DVD Tool for High School Instruction and Museum Demonstration. Astrobiology Magazine V. 5, p. 244. Abstract, oral presentation, NAI Annual Meeting, Boulder CO, April 2005. (PDF)

Droppo, R., 2004: IPTAI website premiere, IPTAI organizational meeting, Hilton Lakes, Dallas TX.

September, 2003: Field trip to Oregon Basalt Plateau with Dr. Lisa M. Pratt. Digital Media liaison between scientific and IU Digital Media personnel.

Artist's Statement
Within the guidelines of the NASA Astrobiology Institute collaboration, the IPTAI group is working on multimedia projects for Education and Public Outreach. In the years that I have worked with the Indiana University biogeochemists, we have developed a language that facilitates a fluid translation between graphic art and scientific processes. Over time we have produced graphs, maps, and photographs to construct 2-dimensional presentation media, and now we are using video, audio, and interactive software to explore how movement and voice can bring scientific inquiry closer to the public mind.