Reflecting on art and science

As I look at the way I approached the sciences and the arts at school and university, it was always a bit black and white: maths, science and engineering equals logical; English lit, drama and art equals creative (or ‘fluffy’ to some). Having operated in both camps, however, I can confidently say that the differences are not as stark as I used to believe.

I started a Fine Arts degree not long after I qualified as an aircraft engineer, and two weeks in I was made aware of the option to switch courses within the first few weeks if you felt the need, had the right grades and places were available. My rational mind put the frighteners on me – why was I committing to four years of arts study when I was already an engineer? What prospects would I have afterwards?

I remember these thoughts were spinning through my head at a welcome BBQ put on by my halls of residence. As I stood staring into space, a beer warming in my hand, an elderly man with an impressive grey beard walked up and said hello, put out his hand and introduced himself by name. I shook his hand and told him mine.

‘I hope you don’t mind me saying but you looked as if you were a thousand miles away.’ he said.

I smiled, ‘Sorry, yes I was actually, I was thinking that I might have to switch to study Law instead – that will be more useful than the Fine Arts course I am on and I need to make a decision this week.’

‘What do you really want to do? Forget about career and money for a moment.’

‘I think I want to carry on with my course.’

‘Well there’s your answer. In my experience doing something you are passionate about is far better than doing something for just the money or prestige. Just make sure you work hard, and the rest will likely follow anyway. Now if you’ll excuse me I must be off!’

We shook hands again and he left the BBQ after saying more goodbyes. I walked over to the warden of residence and asked who the friendly man was. ‘That was the vice chancellor of the university. He‘d promised to drop by.’

I took the man’s advice and have recalled that encounter many times since, never regretting my choice, and all these years later I still see the truth in his words. My time at university was a continuation of my journey of discovery, and I’m not sure I would have sufficient richness to draw on in my writing or engineering work now if I had not followed both heart and head in equal measure. I know this because writing requires creativity, structure, problem solving and discipline, while working in business calls on exactly the same skills.

The best engineers and scientists are also the most creative, and some of the best artists are the most structured and analytical. Science is full of stories of brilliant people who’ve put forward radical theories and spend years designing creative experiments to put those theories to the test. And artists and musicians often rework their creations over and over until the finished article appears effortless and inspired.