Meeting Abstract
Close observation is central to both art and science, as practitioners in both disciplines describe, compare, and seek to understand or interpret the natural world. Indeed, as the artist and writer Guy Davenport noted, “The vision by which we discover the hidden in nature is sometimes called science, sometimes called art”. In the last decade, the movement to integrate Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics with Arts and Humanities (i.e., STEAM learning) has gained traction in K-12 education. A recent National Academies report (2018) examines the case for integrating humanities and the arts in undergraduate STEM education. Microscopy provides an excellent vehicle for engaging all kinds of students in integrative (STEAM) learning about Biology and for encouraging them to observe the world closely. In this address, I will highlight activities and approaches that use microscopy to engage learners of all kinds, examine how using microscopes changes students’ attitudes about science and biology, and explore the intersection of microscopy and visual art.
