Many young people tend to see subjects in black and white. Over the years in science teaching, I’ve often heard students say things like, “Science isn’t for me—I’m more creative than that.” This simple dichotomy between the arts and sciences—that science (and engineering) is somehow devoid of creativity—is simply not true. We must help our young people understand that there is science in art and art in science.
After all, to be creative means “producing or using original and unusual ideas” (Cambridge Dictionary). Scientists and engineers are constantly striving to find novel and innovative solutions to complex problems. In fact, the challenge of designing solutions that must also obey the laws of nature often requires an even greater degree of ingenuity and creativity.
Image from https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/creative
There are plenty of resources available to support this integrated approach:
- PSTT’s Sketch-book Science
I encourage you to explore the PSTT’s Sketch-book Science resource. As a secondary teacher, I have routinely used several of the science activities it offers. For example, crater drop experiments make an excellent introduction to scientific investigations for Year 7 students. Why not collaborate with your Art department to run related art activities concurrently? Many of these projects also serve as great transition activities with feeder schools.
Check it out here.
- Humphry Davy – Crossing the Arts/Science Divide in Schools
STEM Learning, together with Lancaster University and the Royal Institution, has released a new resource based on the work of Humphry Davy. In addition to being a renowned scientist, Sir Humphry Davy composed poetry in his notebooks. This resource uniquely bridges science and literacy by offering lessons for both Science and English. Students analyse the same lines from a poem, interpreting them through both scientific and literary lenses. I particularly appreciate the Waves Science knowledge prompt sheet included in the resource, which helps reinforce science-related vocabulary—a facet that can sometimes be overlooked in a busy curriculum.
Explore the resource here.
Waves Science knowledge prompt sheet.
- The Science Museum and RSC Resources
The Science Museum’s website features engaging pages on the intersection of Art and Science. I particularly love the cyanotype images featured in their “Meaningful Matter” section, which evoke the creative interplay between natural phenomena and artistic expression. These images remind me of an RSC resource we sometimes use when teaching chemical reactions—demonstrating that light, not just heat, can initiate a chemical reaction.
See the cyanotype images here.
Students really enjoy this activity on making and using blueprint paper.
There’s also an interesting resource on making photographic prints using silver chloride, though I haven’t used it myself:
Learn more about photographic prints.
STEM is inherently a creative endeavour. Let’s ensure our young people know that a career in STEM can also satisfy their creative aspirations. I invite you to share any resources you’ve found effective in blending these disciplines with our wider STEM community.