Norie Sato's Study Circles, combines contradicting themes into a site specific artwork that can be interpreted many different ways. Composed of two ribbons on 2 layers of glass that alludes to helices, connections, micro/macro while illuminating the work of the Hygienic Lab and merging the inside of the lab with the outside. Circular details are metaphoric Petri dishes that refer to various elements of the research at the lab, including water and air quality, environmental issues, mold, bacteria, viruses, pond scum, asbestos, for example, from the microscopic view to views visible easily to the human eye. Perceiving, exploring, juxtaposing and scrutiny are integral to the artwork, just as these processes are integral to research, experimentation and discovery in science.

Norie Sato lives and works in Seattle, Washington. Her public works are mainly contextual, reflecting and enhancing the specific environment. She has done multiple works for various transit systems in Phoenix, Portland, and Salt Lake City. Sato has previously completed a work for the Iowa State Laboratory Facilities Building in Ankeny, which is the sister lab to the Hygienic Laboratory in Iowa City.