Seventeenth International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities

Abstract

The fourth industrial revolution requires an interdisciplinary approach to problem solving and creativity. Whether you are a humanist or a technician, the integration of the arts into STEM (STEAM) dismantles the silos of these disparate disciplines. The sciences began as an art form. Here in Granada, the Alhambra demonstrates how engineering methods, scientific study, and understanding the physical world resulted in the creative interplay of the humanities and technology. It’s an icon of medieval Moorish identity with its perfectly irrigated gardens and precisely measured mosaics that reveal the pinnacle of integration of the arts and sciences. The Alhambra is designed with systems thinking. Its creators were cognizant of the connection between resources, religion, politics, economics, technology, and culture. The preservation and admiration of this structure for over eight centuries reveals that when humanists and technicians align their lenses we can jointly reveal the timeless beauty and wonder of the human condition. When these intersections are translated into educational tools, they allow students to grapple with big ideas without creating an artificial divide between scientific rationalism and artistic creativity. In this workshop, we will demonstrate the interdisciplinary pedagogy that we have developed over a combined 10 years working in a STEAM-focused honors program. Our work shows how today’s STEM practitioners and humanists alike can use the same integrated approach embodied by the Alhambra’s designers to catalyze creativity and innovation in all fields. After all, if we ask technicians to integrate the humanities, then we also need humanists to embrace STEM.