STEM vs. STEAM

Arjun Nair

Co-founder & Creative Director

It sure has been a while, but we’re back with more motivation than ever to make a change. 

Today, I’d like to discuss a topic that may raise questions for many. So, why was STEM changed to STEAM? In 2011, the commonly used acronym “STEM” was changed to “STEAM” to add the word “art.” Originally, the letters stood for science, technology, engineering, and math, but it was always missing something. This integration of topics is meant to introduce ideas for problem-solving and creative thinking. However, when thinking of creativity, something always comes to mind: art. Activities like painting, playing musical instruments, writing, and even cooking are forms of art. Each one incorporates creative aspects that we often use to think outside of the box. Switching up styles of writing can add depth and complexity to work, cooking with odd ingredients could result in tasty dishes, and fiddling with random notes on an instrument could bring new tunes to enjoy.

Aside from the cohesive perspective, art also represents the other letters of the phrase. For example, ancient artworks from famous artists around the world contain mathematical elements. Hokusai’s famous piece, “The Great Wave off Kanagawa,” and the “Mona Lisa” by DaVinci use the Fibonacci sequence (also known as the golden ratio). Similarly, cooking relies heavily on many scientific principles. Combinations of ingredients produce chemical reactions that sprout delicious meals on your plate. Different levels of heat cause different results when different foods are in the pan. 

In our workshops here at I’mPossible, art always has a big role. For example, our salt painting activities allow people to learn about scientific chemical reactions while using one of the most widely recognized art forms, painting. Similarly, we incorporate art forms into our slime-making workshops and others throughout the disciplines.

When considering all the reasons, the integration of art into STEM has been long overdue. In fact, it was always there, but just layered underneath the other disciplines of STEM. This field is fascinating, and there are always new things to discuss. 

Until then, continue to wonder about this endless world around us…