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Participants from across the U.S., Europe and the Middle East will share tools, research, creative work and networks, and learn from colleagues doing innovative work at the "edges" where disciplines meet and overlap, in a conference Nov. 5-8 at Iowa State University.
" Edge Effects," the 2014 national conference of the Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities (a2ru), will offer panel discussions, breakout sessions, performances and presentations on topics related to cross-disciplinary creativity, collaboration, communication, technology, research and innovation.
ISU College of Design Dean Luis Rico-Gutierrez was instrumental in forming the a2ru partnership of 30 institutions that are committed to supporting arts-integrative interdisciplinary research, curricula, programs and creative practice among the arts, sciences and other disciplines.
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Integrated studio arts professor April Katz and colleagues will construct an art installation at the a2ru conference using materials recycled from projects using digital technology.
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Bridging art and science
"Art, design and the humanities are the necessary bridge joining science, technology and human aspirations in efforts to solve the greatest challenges in the world today," Rico-Gutierrez says. "a2ru brings together institutions with strength in these areas to demonstrate ways their contributions make a meaningful impact on our physical, cultural and economic environments."
Iowa State has long integrated the arts and design in teaching, research, extension and outreach activities. One notable example is the Biological/Pre-Medical Illustration (BPMI) program, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
The interdepartmental BPMI major is a shared program of the ISU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the College of Design. Students take a combination of courses focused on natural sciences and studio art to learn to produce scientifically accurate and aesthetically pleasing work that communicates complex information.
Did you know? Fewer than a dozen U.S. schools offer similar undergraduate majors, and Iowa State's is one of the oldest.
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