CROSS SECTIONS MAGAZINE / WINTER 2014
33
Zoobiquity Authors Share Links between Human and Animal Health On Oct. 29, Kathryn Bowers and Dr. Barbara Natterson-Horowitz, the authors of “Zoobiquity: The Astonishing Connection Between Human and Animal Health,” spoke to parents, students and teachers about their fascinating book, which was a New York Times Bestseller and one of Discover magazine’s Best Books of 2012.
Crossroads Student, Alumna Enjoy TV Chef Success Crossroads seventh-grader Dara Yu and alumna and parent Brooke Williamson ’96 spent some time sharing their passion for cooking and Crossroads on campus this fall. Dara was the runner-up on MasterChef Junior, a cooking competition show featuring kids 8 to 13 that wrapped its first season Nov. 8. Brooke, whose son, Hudson, is in kindergarten at Crossroads, was the runner-up on the 10th season of Top Chef, which aired in March of 2013. Both contestants said that their experience at Crossroads helped them handle the stresses that came with competing on the shows. Dara said that her Life Skills classes enabled her to “to talk about my feelings and show my emotion.” She added: “Crossroads is also very creative, and I think that helped me a lot.” Brooke credits the show with giving her the opportunity to face many of her fears and Crossroads for providing her with a nurturing environment. “My high school experiences shaped me as a person, so I could be confident. Coming from a supportive community that encourages you to follow your passion was really important.” Dara and Brooke said they both felt an emptiness when their shows ended since the process was all-consuming— requiring long days and weeks of sequestration from family members and friends. The absence was quickly filled by new opportunities and projects that capitalize on their unrelenting love of food and cooking.
“She did the show because she loves cooking, and now what’s come out of it is her compassion and poise for public speaking,” says Dara’s mom, Carole. Dara’s stepdad, Scott Stewart, is building a set in the family’s home for a new cooking web series featuring her. She also recently got to cook for the band One Direction during their special 1 Dday promotion. Brooke is busy shooting a new reality cooking series, which is scheduled to air in 2014, in addition to working on the launch of her third restaurant with her husband, Nick Roberts. And, of course, caring for Hudson, who is a “super-picky” eater (his favorite dish is teriyaki salmon with smelt eggs). Both Dara and Brooke continue to get noticed around Los Angeles. When Brooke went to pick up the Prius she won on the show from a local dealer, he asked her why she was getting the car for free. When she told him she was the runner-up on Top Chef Seattle, he said, “Oh, that’s right, you were the one who was always crying!” To follow their adventures, go to facebook. com/darathebowgirl or twitter.com/ ChefBrookeW
At their talk, “What Jaguar Breast Cancer, Dolphin Diabetes and Flamingo Heart Attacks Mean for Human Health,” the authors were articulate, witty and accessible and provided myriad examples of how our evolutionary history manifests itself in conditions and behaviors that are common to both animals and humans. This shared history provides an easy transition for people to discuss topics that can be otherwise difficult to address, such as sexuality, self-injury, addiction and disease. The genesis of “Zoobiquity” began when Natterson-Horowitz was called by the Los Angeles Zoo to consult on the case of a chimpanzee. During the consult, she noticed that the primate patient had a heart that was indistinguishable from her human patients at UCLA. This led her to wonder which diseases that exist in the animal world also exist in the human world. The overlap she found was so astonishing, it led her to a lifetime of study and a collaboration with Bowers on the book. The authors’ presentation was followed by a lively and lengthy question and answer session in which Middle School students asked one excellent question after another. Because of the evening’s popularity, “Zoobiquity” will likely influence many projects in the upcoming Science Fair, which will be on display in the gym Feb. 7-8.