Ways of Knowing: Art and Science's Shared Imagination
Perspectives from the Sciences, Humanities and Creative Arts
An interdisciplinary staff research symposium at the School of Creative Arts hosted by the Art Research Group. Convened by Simeon Nelson, Professor of Sculpture
Dedicated to Robert Priddey, 1975-2010.
When?
Friday 1 October 2010, 12.00 – 19.30
Saturday 2 October 2010, 09.30 – 17.40
Where?
Friday: Weston Auditorium, de Havilland Campus University of Hertfordshire
Saturday: Lindop Building, College Lane Campus University of Hertfordshire.
About the symposium
This symposium is motivated by the sense of wonder shared by artists and scientists at the complex cosmos we inhabit. It forms part of the celebration of the first anniversary of the Faculty of Science, Technology and Creative Arts and is a step toward what will hopefully be a longer-term interdisciplinary research effort in science and art within the new faculty. This first meeting is deliberately broad in scope hoping to uncover as much work in science-art with the University as possible.
If art and science are understood as equally necessary and complementary ways of knowing the world, how does this understanding enrich them? What type of knowledge is produced by the numerous art-science collaborations and interdisciplinary art-science courses that have grown up internationally in the last few decades? What has been the main purpose and impact of these, to interpret and disseminate scientific knowledge or something more fundamental?
Further questions would be: do artists engaging with scientists affect the outcome of any science being done? Can art be a contribution to knowledge? Can science contribute to meaning in a way similar to the arts and humanities? What is the nature of discovery and creativity in art and science? Philosophical questions might look at how the value judgments of the creative arts and the falsifiable statements of science interact when they come together.
Invited external speakers and workshop facilitators:
- Prof Simon Biggs, research professor at the Edinburgh School of Art
- Mario Caeiro curator of the Skyway Art and Astronomy Festival, Torun
- Anna Dumitriu Artist and researcher
- Rob Kesseler, Professor of Ceramic Art & Design,Central Saint Martins
- Tony Longson, Professor of Art, CalState, Los Angeles
- Nicola Triscott, director Arts Catalyst, London
Call for Papers (now closed)
Submissions from any discipline are welcome. Of particular interest would be perspectives from astrophysics, the computational and engineering sciences, music, the visual and media arts, the physical and life sciences, psychology and the philosophy and history of art and science. Abstracts of 200-300 words for papers of 20 minutes should be submitted as e-mail attachments in word to Simeon Nelson by 15 June2010. Please include paper title, name and job title of presenter and contact details.
More information
About the Ways of Knowing symposium.
Registration form - please download, complete and email back.
Schedule - Ways of Knowing Art and Science Symposium.
School of Creative Arts