The connection between art and science has long been established throughout the human creative process; however, specific tools or methods to fuel creativity among students are not commonly studied.
Curious, we set out to test whether art-inspired (ekphrastic) poetry could stimulate creativity. In particular, we sought to evaluate the role of ekphrastic poetry as a catalyst for scientific creativity. For this purpose, we curated artworks that lent themselves to interpretive imagination, such as abstract, surrealist, and scientific imaging art.
26 high school and college students were given instructions on how to conduct an ekphrastic poetry exercise and chose one among eight different works of art. Upon completion of the poem, students answered a questionnaire to collect valuable information: the types of academic fields that came to mind while writing the poem, any ‘A-ha’ moments or new realizations they discovered, and whether this exercise enhanced their appreciation of art, among others.
Learn more about our study and discover myriad ways in which students connected art, science, and creativity.
