Artists’ Work Process: STEM Topics & Art-Science Collaboration

This report describes the results from an exploratory study of how artists approached collaboration with earth scientists to foster the public’s science learning and engagement with a city’s waterways. Data from phone interviews, surveys, and reflection on the artwork produced for this collaboration were compared with observations of roundtable discussions with community-based artists and scientists grappling with these ideas in a dialogue format.

The researchers found that personal connections with the waterway sites and professional interest in and experience with art–science collaborations influenced artists’ perceptions of science. Artists’ experience with art–science collaborations further determined how and where they gathered scientific information. All artists prioritized experiential and emotional engagement with science topics for their audiences, rather than attempting to create instructional pieces about scientific process or facts. In general, the artists and scientists who participated in the study desire more opportunities for meaningful and equal partnerships in art–science collaboration. Reflecting on art and scientific process, artists and scientists saw both similarities and differences in the processes and priorities that characterize their fields. The results of this study reveal characteristics of artist-led processes that may complicate efforts to advance public STEM literacy. The results also point to opportunities for further experimentation, as well as specific strategies that might improve the process and outcomes of future collaborations among art and STEM professionals.

Appendix includes interview script.