In the world of industry that lies beyond education, the compartmentalisation of subjects created by our current education system does not exist. Professionals who excel in their fields present a rich mixture of specialist knowledge and skills, complimented with personal attributes such as problem-solving, resilience, collaboration skills, communication skills, innovative thinking . . . the list goes on. We know that people who regularly access their creativity present these attributes in abundance.
I sat down with my sister Fleur Moseley, a medical communications consultant and director of Little Orange Puppy, an organisation specialising in the development of strategies, communications and education for the pharmaceutical sector, to learn how creativity and science collide and combine in her career. Moseley begins by highlighting the importance of storytelling in the medical science industry.
“In my work there is a lot of evidence and high-level science involved, and the question is, how do we create stories that are memorable? Stories that are simple but still scientifically accurate and credible. It is about taking a wealth of information and transforming it into something that different audiences can understand and follow.”
Moseley goes on to explain how creativity enables her company to transform complex scientific data into accessible formats that allows an identified audience to develop the required level of understanding to facilitate change. Often a change that will significantly improve, if not transform, their life.
“Fundamentally, this is about identifying what needs to change to optimise someone’s health, whether that’s their own actions or someone else acting on their behalf. A lot of this involves creative problem-solving: understanding what people are currently doing, what they should be or need to be doing, and what obstacles are preventing them from making those changes. It’s about creating programmes that identify these barriers to optimal behaviour or health management, then developing educational resources, evidence, or practical tools to help people reach those goals. So, I see this as creative problem-solving, looking at a problem from various angles.”
In addition, Moseley expands on how using more illustrative ways to present data and analytics can increase information impact and understanding.
“Visualisation of data can take many forms, and you see examples in the news when they present graphics to show how scientific data are changing.”
The importance of graphic imagery as a powerful communication tool is a sentiment shared by biologist Michael Dickinson, founder of the Dickinson Lab at The California Institute of Technology. Dickinson has dedicated his career to studying how flies fly, developing a reputation as a leading expert in the complex feat of insect flight. In 2013, he presented a TEDx talk hosted by Caltech, within which he exhibited some of the extensive illustrations he has created to capture and share his findings. Dickinson shared some thoughts about the crucial role visual communication plays in his scientific work and teachings.
“Visual communication is an absolutely essential part of my work. I cannot really comprehend anything without being able to sketch a picture of it. I can convey my ideas to colleagues much more effectively in a picture or movie than I can in words.”
He goes on to talk about the power of the visual image within learning and retaining information: “It is the pictures in textbooks we remember, not the words. For me, art, history, and literature are as important a part of science as math and chemistry.”
The testimony of both of these experts suggests that mastering and embedding creative skills within an industry specialism can not only help to sustain individual practice but encourage the breaking of conventions, the formation of new ideas and a more effective communication of knowledge to others. It is only in this sharing of knowledge does all humanity benefit from the endeavours of the individual.
So, what does this mean to us as policy-makers, education institution leaders and as educators? It is our responsibility to create an educationally developmental experience for our young people that best prepares them to succeed in their professional lives, regardless of what sector they choose to work within.
As the custodians of education, it is imperative that we break subject silos, fostering instead an interdisciplinary learning model that collaboratively explores how arts and creativity can be interwoven within STEM subjects. The perception is often that the creative arts has to fight for its place in the conversation. However, a more effective approach would be for STEM subject-leaders to proactively explore how to embed creative arts within curriculum design, delivery and assessment.
Perhaps the next time there is a quiet moment in the laboratory, computer room, or workshop, take a stroll along the creative arts corridor, come find an arts educator, and let’s have ‘A’ conversation.
For more fascinating insights into creative arts education, join us at the Teach Inspire Create Conference on Friday 22 November where UAL Awarding Body will be hosting leading educators and creative industry professionals. From inspirational keynote speeches on the use of ethical AI to workshops with innovative companies exploring AR & Storytelling to youth empowerment and climate action, as well as an exclusive panel discussion about how to connect creativity with the curriculum, this conference is a must for all educators. Book your space here.
Your thoughts