“To develop a complete mind: study the science of art; study the art of science. Learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else.” -Leonardo da Vinci
Science and art are often placed into separate boxes. Scientists sit and think, collect things, and do experiments. Artists draw, dance, play, sing, compose, and write. In higher education we place our disciplines into physical boxes. Scientists can be found in the Science Complex, musicians in the Music Building, artists in the Design Center. Of course, the boxes in which we work are useful, allowing us to interact with those most interested in our particular questions and enabling us to speak the same language with those in our discipline.
However, many characteristics and skills are shared by a variety of disciplines. Scientists, medical practitioners, artists, musicians, and writers all have to analyze and focus on the details at one point or another. Many scientists compose and write, even draw and sing and dance. Music and mathematics have a special kinship. Microscopists admire images just as much as photographers. Some biologists study life histories and use techniques similar to those a historian would use.
A number of famous individuals have demonstrated the integration of science and the arts. Leonardo da Vinci is most famous for both his science and his art. The two were fully integrated in his work, in his creative genius, in his invention of engineering marvels and description of anatomical wonders. Einstein is quoted as saying, “Life without playing music is inconceivable for me. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music. I get most joy in life out of music.” Often, we consider the arts to be creative and the sciences to be methodical and rote. In fact, the process of science is fundamentally creative—brilliant ideas are what move science forward.
Yet we remain in our silos. Yes, we do great work in our silos. Chemists don’t need musicians to do chemistry, and musicians don’t need chemists to make great music. But what if there was a place where we could rub shoulders with each other, because we all wanted to be there, because we gained common inspiration for doing our separate work? Perhaps such an inspirational place could even serve to bring disparate disciplines together to develop creative ideas, strategic partnerships, and innovative curricula.
We propose that natural beauty is a common source of inspiration for all, both scientists and artists, theologians and engineers, writers and musicians. A sunrise. A mountain top view. Splashes of floral color across a desert landscape. The lushness of a tropical rainforest. The sky at night. We also propose that Andrews has a rich variety of such inspirational resources, but lacks a central hub for the Andrews and local communities to easily access these resources and information about them so that they can be inspired by them.
A number of us have been working with our campus administration, faculty, and staff, toward developing a center for inspiration, for both the Andrews and local communities. A place where artists, theologians, scientists, anyone, can come together to share ideas, perhaps inspired by a view of the Arboretum canopy, a desert in bloom in the Andrews Botanical Conservatory, or the night sky as viewed through a telescope on a stargazing platform. We propose the Inspiration Center as a gathering place on the roof of the Science Complex for the Andrews community and a connection between our campus resources (Conservatory, Observatory, Arboretum, Natural History Museum, Horn Archaeological Museum, Agriculture Education Center, trails, etc.) and our local community (schools, garden clubs, seniors’ groups, other nature-focused organizations). You might think of it as a hub, linking the sciences, arts, and humanities at Andrews with each other and with the local community through a common source of inspiration, the natural world.
An idea of what this could look like is shown in the figure. This is an aerial view of the Science Complex. Proposed additions to this space, along with renovations of the current Botanical Conservatory, include an area for meetings, performances, exhibits and casual gatherings, an outdoor terrace surrounding the Conservatory with campus views, an elevated observation platform for views from one of the highest points on campus, and possibly a dome theater for immersive presentations. In addition, the Inspiration Center will include a small kitchen or café for light food and refreshments.
At present these are just ideas. And so, we are soliciting your feedback! The year 2024 is the 150th anniversary of Andrews University. It is also the 50th anniversary of the Science Complex. We think it is an appropriate time to make an addition such as this. What do you think of these ideas? Do you have any suggestions? If you have ideas or comments, please send them to Dr. Peter Lyons at lyons@andrews.edu. We would love to get your input. And if you’d like to stop by and visit the space as it is now, please do. The Andrews Botanical Conservatory is open for visitors, Monday through Thursday, whenever school is in session.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.