Hello Keni, I feel Ms. Mach's response is very close to how I feel too, though not from a visitor's perspective. As a historical society whose membership demographic is older, we're constantly looking for ways to connect with younger audiences. Our education program, still in development, is built for STEAM (pun actually is intended), and incorporates the numerous paintings and artwork in our collections. We feel it'll do well to attract a wider audience, as well as students, and enable them to see those items in a different way. So an old White Star Line advertisement poster, for instance, can be analyzed for its artistic merits, but also build discussion about economics, business, and marketing practices of the time. Seeing artistic items in multifaceted ways can open up opportunities to create new programs or exhibitions that can educate people on how the arts are tied into science and even enhance it. For those who are already engaged with the arts or are artists themselves, they can learn of new avenues to apply their skills---as well as vice versa, as Ms. Mach noted. Also, incorporating sciences into art exhibits can help with fundraising and grant applications, given the emphasis of STEM field training nowadays. Astrid M. Drew Research & Media Coordinator Steamship Historical Society 2500 Post Road Warwick, RI 02886 www.sshsa.org Phone: 401-463-3570 On Tue, Oct 14, 2014 at 7:43 PM, Mach, Bernadette <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Keni, > > I can only speak from a visitor's viewpoint, but I love STEM-related > activities and programs in non-science based museums. For one, I was > always a science kid, so that was and still is my primary interest. Seeing > programs in art museums about scientists using special imaging to uncover > and restore paintings, programs about the engineering behind the museum's > building, or programs about all of the equipment used to keep art and > historic items preserved was a great way for me to connect what I > absolutely loved (science) to what I enjoyed (art and history). > > The main values that I see in such activities are reaching out to and > engaging those who might otherwise get bored of the art or history by > itself and exposing visitors (especially children and young adults) to > careers in museum science that integrate STEM fields (and that they might > not have considered before). > > Anyway, those are just my two cents. I would love to hear what other > people's responses are. > > Bernadette "Bernie" Mach > M.S. Student > Turf and Landscape Entomology Lab > Department of Entomology > University of Kentucky > [log in to unmask] > > On Tue, Oct 14, 2014 at 7:10 PM, Jaclyn J. Kelly <[log in to unmask]> > wrote: > >> For what it's worth, I wouldn't mind reading people's responses on the >> listserv... the museum I work at is also trying to increase our STEM (or >> STEAM) activities and I think these insights might be really helpful. >> >> On Tue, Oct 14, 2014 at 5:23 PM, Keni Sturgeon <[log in to unmask]> >> wrote: >> >>> Hi all, >>> I'd love to hear from members of the list on what you see as the value >>> (either to your visitors or to your organization) in including science, >>> technology, engineering and/or math (STEM) related activities and/or >>> inviting STEM professionals to develop programs in/for non-science based >>> museums and related institutions, particularly in art and history museums? >>> If you do not see any value, I'd love to hear why. Please respond to my >>> work email - [log in to unmask] >>> >>> Thank you, >>> >>> Keni Sturgeon >>> >>> Director, Science & Education at Pacific Science Center >>> >>> >>> >>> ------------------------------ >>> >>> To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link: >>> http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-HOME.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1 >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> Jaclyn J. Kelly >> >> facebook.com/KnitoriousNeedles >> etsy.com/shop/KnitoriousNeedles >> Follow me on Twitter @knitneedles >> >> www.mpm.edu >> www.oldworldwisconsin.org >> luxamculturalsociety.org >> www.milwaukeehistory.net >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link: >> http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-HOME.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1 >> > > > ------------------------------ > > To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link: > http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-HOME.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1 > ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).