The opening phrases of Scientists beginning to welcome artists more for their ability to represent data and aid in creativity in the laboratory.
This idea is one that I welcome, and hope to see truth from in my lifetime. I am fond of the sciences and believe each of them has extreme importance to them. But I also am aware that people don't give enough attention and consideration to the things that are being found out each day.
If there was a major break-through in the world of science, say with the discovery of an element in physics that would make string theory obsolete, word would spread. But this knowledge wouldn't be spread as widely and rapidly as the winner of American Idol or the latest episode of Duck Dynasty.
And when this word gets out, it wouldn't be understood. People may be able to say they know the basic fact, but they wouldn't know anything beyond that. And most people don't actually care.
That's where artists can help. With data visualization artists and scientists together can get statistical data into the world in a way that people want to read, that people may understand better without getting them to read scientific textbooks.
It is my hope that scientific knowledge, more in depth than the basics of knowing that tectonic plates cause earthquakes or that stars can be dead while we still see their light, will one day be understood.
I can't help but wonder what it would be like for society if everybody understood the basic concepts of string theory or genetics. Personally, I think some amazing things could happen.
-Thomas
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