C.P. Snow states that he “believes the intellectual life of
the whole of western society is increasingly being split into two polar
groups.” It is apparent that two distinct cultures exist, but from
my experience, the distinction is not as black and white as Snow suggests.
As a student studying
chemical engineering, I am deeply encompassed in the scientific culture. My
classmates can be found manipulating complex equations to describe the phenomena
of turbulent flow through a pipe.
Equations describing characteristics of a moving fluid.
My research mentors follow strict protocols to culture stem cells
in bio-compatible materials to find a cure for patients who have suffered strokes.
I hope to become an engineer that produces medicine through the use of
machinery and production lines. The stereotypes are ever present, but there is
artistry and creativity that is needed to excel in each task. For example, researchers work creatively on a daily basis, stretching their minds and their
scientific capabilities to create completely novel techniques for age-old
problems. This creativity is precisely Bohm’s description in which “one perceives a new fundamental set of similar differences,
that constitutes a genuinely new order” (Bohm). In
addition, the need to share their findings with their fellow colleagues in
scientific journals and poster competitions is facilitated with the use of
conceptualized drawings and literature. In many ways, art enhances science more
than science ever could on its own.
Design of Cell-Matrix Interaction in Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogel Scaffolds
The same is true of art. My preferred art form is Polynesian dancing. It
takes a creative mind to develop exceptional choreography to tell the rich stories
of Polynesia. However, the acts are further enhanced when this traditional art
is updated through contemporary music, dance styles, and technology of sound
systems and stage art.
That's me!
I experience both scientific and artistic cultures on a
daily basis, in which both exist separately from one
another. However, I find that science and art are inseparable in that one
enhances the other. The more the two cultures coincide, the more these cultures
can culminate into the “third culture” of contemporary scientists (Graham-Rowe).
Sources
1. Benson, Tom, ed. "Navier-Stokes Equations." NASA. N.p., 29 Jul 2008. Web. 29 Sep 2013. <http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/BGH/nseqs.html>.
2. Bohm, D. "On Creativity." Leonardo. 1.2 (1968): 137-149. Print.
3. Graham-Rowe, Duncan. "Match-making with Science and
Art." Wired. (2011): Print.
4. Lam, J. "Design of Cell-Matrix Interactions in
Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogel Scaffolds." Acta Biomaterialia. (2013): Print.
5. Snow, C.P. “Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution.”
Reading. 1959. New York: Cambridge UP, 1961. Print.
