In a 2014 New York Times article, Henry Fountain wrote about the STEAM initiative, adding art to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). « Engineering and art were not always completely separate disciplines. Take Leonardo da Vinci, who seamlessly combined the two. »
« Typically engineering students are not comfortable with sketching…But being able to quickly sketch to communicate an idea “is an enormously useful tool.” It also helps “see” an idea. “To do engineering you’ve got to be able to visualize.” »
« John Maeda, who championed STEM to STEAM as president of R.I.S.D. from 2008 to 2013, has degrees in electrical engineering and computer science as well as classical design. In a commentary last year for Scientific American, he wrote this about art/science synergy: “Both are dedicated to asking the big questions placed before us: ‘What is true? Why does it matter? How can we move society forward?’ Both search deeply, and often wanderingly, for these answers.” »
Articles of Interest 