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Underwater Art Museums – Making a difference in conservation

Sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor places his work underneath the ocean’s surface in locations all over the world.  The exhibits are beautiful and provide a place for ocean life to thrive, but the advantages of his work expand beyond the tiny organisms growing on them.

Taylor’s sculpture park “Ocean Atlas” in the Bahamas drew attention to a nearby leak at an oil refinery.  The pressure from the international news media influenced the government to allocate 10 million dollars towards cleanup.  His park in Granada provided a reason for the government to create a designated area where marine life is protected.  Entrance fees to the park fund park rangers who manage fishing quotas and tourism.

The underwater sculpture parks are called museums to help people view the ocean as sacred.  When we hold something sacred, we cherish and protect it.  A museum is a place of preservation, conservation and education.  It becomes a designated point of interest where people can learn about the ocean and participate in its survival.

The work of Jason deCaires Taylor is the perfect combination of art and science that is playing a pivotal role in positive changes to the environment.

Posted by Amy DeCaussin.

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Hospital uses art lessons to improve medical practice

the-art-of-healing

An innovative program at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital uses art to help physicians focus on the art of healing. (Click here to view the CBS video, Dr. Tara Narula reports.)  Members of the integrated teaching unit (ITU) attend sessions at Boston Museum of Fine arts where they are learning to soften the hard science of medicine by strengthening interpersonal skills.  The program is bringing humanities back into the healthcare curriculum, a core value that has been missing for the last 50 years.

The experience at the museum has a unique advantage above other types of activities such as attending a ball game, or having a staff party. Art takes everyone out of their comfort zone.  Participants are asked to observe and talk about the artwork.  Discussions promote collaboration and team building.  As a result, they become better at communicating, problem solving, thinking outside of the box and appreciating different perspectives.  These are all great skills that enhance the ability to diagnose as well as treat a patient.  According to this CBS video segment, the program is showing great improvements in the care given at the hospital.

Posted by Amy DeCaussin.

Laboratory5 Inc. is a small business based in Tempe, Arizona

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Teach Arts & Sciences Together – Astronaut Mae Jemison

In this video, Dr. Mae Jemison, physician and former NASA astronaut, talks about what is critical to a better future–and by future, she means, “In the year 2015, and the year 2020, 2025, the world our society is going to be building on, the basic knowledge and abstract ideas, the discoveries that we came up with today.”  This TED Talk was recorded in 2002, however her speech seems to resonate more than ever with what is currently going on in the world.  So listen up, all you societal contributors!  This message is important and should be applied today as we work to build our legacy for tomorrow.

The ideology that science and art are separate–this polarization, hinders the ability to create progress, experience and humanity for the future.  Dr. Jemison argues that they are “manifestations of the same thing.”  She goes on to say, “Science provides an understanding of universal experience and arts provides an understanding of a personal experience.  They are all part of us.”  Art is thought to be intuitive, and science is considered analytical.  Art is also analytical. According to Dr. Jemison, the ability to launch the shuttle is derived from the same place as choreographing a dance.  When choreographing a dance, upon hearing the music, one might first intuitively come up with an expressive movement.  The creation is then analyzed and refined to convey the right communication to the audience.  A scientist can think of an equation first, and then analyze it to see if it will work.

Why is it so important for everyone to understand that these two subjects coexist?  It effects how we think, how we learn, and how we create and contribute to society.  Dr. Jemison explains, “My personal issue for the future is really about integrating the intuitive and analytical.  The arts and scientists are not separate.  I like to think of ideas as potential energy.  They are really wonderful but nothing will happen without risking putting those ideas into action.  The three questions of greatest concern “is it attractive (intuitive), is it amusing (analytical) and does it know its place (balance)?”

Written by Amy DeCaussin

Director of Projects & Social Media

Laboratory5 Inc. is a small business based in Tempe, Arizona

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