UnitLevel 2Undergraduate

SCI2400 Creative methods at the intersections of science and art

Faculty of Science

SCI2400 Creative methods at the intersections of science and art is a level 2, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Science, offered in 2022 in Summer A at Prato. It has no prerequisites.

Credit points
6
Offered in 2022
Summer A
Prato
Assessment
No exam
4 tasks
Workload
48 hours
per semester

This is the 2022 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.

Reviews

No reviews yet

No reviews yet. Be the first to review SCI2400.

Requisites

Before SCI2400

No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.

After SCI2400

No unit lists SCI2400 as a prerequisite in the 2022 handbook.

Enrolment rules

PROHIBITION: SCI1400

PREREQUISITE: At least 18 credit points of level 1 units

Overview

This interdisciplinary unit, based at Monash Prato Centre in Italy, is an immersive journey into how art and science provide complementary modes of creative thinking that have contributed to the development of science, culture and society. You will learn about the historical interactions between art, design, science, technology in a transdisciplinary way.

In this unit, you will harness complementary scientific and creative problem solving and communication tools that can be applied in your future career to enhance your capacity as an innovator. You will undergo a shift in perspective, and deepen your understanding of how science intersects with art and design to respond to socio-economic and political issues of our age by working on a self-selected project in a team.  

We will start by exploring the nexus of scientific and creative thinking through the work and discoveries of Galileo Galilei in the early 17th century, examining how these discoveries were influenced by the cultural environment nurtured by the Medici and Lorraine families, the founders and rulers of Tuscany, during the Renaissance. We will then explore how the development of scientific instrumentation through the 18th and 19th century in astronomy, chemistry and medicine impacted cultural developments, and the role of art and design therein. You will explore multiple science and art museums and engage with how science can be communicated to the public to bring key scientific endeavours to life.

This unit will be of interest to students from science and beyond (i.e., art, design and architecture, business, engineering, etc.). The activities will be delivered through visits to museums, seminar discussions and studio activities, and self-chosen research-driven activities. The unit aims to develop your ability to examine problems and use your creativity to come up with imaginative, innovative and speculative solutions using complementary methods, tools and thinking processes from arts and science.

Offerings in 2022

Teaching periodCampusMode
Summer semester APratoOn campus

Assessment

  • Exercise
    5%
  • Project 1Project
    45%
  • Project 2Project
    40%
  • Presentation
    10%

Learning outcomes

When you finish this unit, you should be able to:

  1. 1

    Describe the role that key scientific discoveries have played in changing society, considering the history and philosophy of science and its intersection with art and design;

  2. 2

    Examine various ways in which scientific and creative design thinking tools and methods are complementary, promote transdisciplinary collaboration, and harness innovation;

  3. 3

    Investigate interrelatedness of science, art and society through exploring creative science communication and effective means of engaging the public with global issues;

  4. 4

    Frame and conduct a project as part of an interdisciplinary team, within an international cultural context;

  5. 5

    Demonstrate creative oral and written skills and present evidence-based arguments using both artistic and scientific thinking.

Workload and teaching

  • Workshops18 hours
  • Teaching approachPeer assisted learning
  • Teaching approachCase-based teaching
  • Teaching approachResearch activities
  • Teaching approachField trips
  • Teaching approachProblem-based learning
  • Teaching approachEnquiry-based learning

Minimum total expected workload equals 48 hours per week over a 3 week period, comprising 18 hours workshops and discussions, 48 hours organised field trips and excursions and 78 hours of independent study.

You will leverage the interdisciplinary strengths within a team and collaborate and share knowledge and skills.

You will analyse and explore particular cases, such as historical and contemporary scientific and artistic discoveries and artefact's, events and movements, in order to understand the intersection of creative methods.

You will conduct research into a project of your choosing in order to understand the intersection of creative methods across arts and science.

You will be immersed in Prato, visiting a selection of museums and historical locations related to the history of arts and science.

You will be set problem-based challenges, in your exploration of museums and historical locations related to the intersection of arts and science.

You will explore a case of your choosing, within the context of the local environment and the intersection of art and science.

Contacts

Unit Coordinators
Associate Professor Djuke Veldhuis
Chief Examiners
Professor Richard Reina

Common questions

What are the prerequisites for SCI2400?

SCI2400 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.

When is SCI2400 offered?

In 2022, SCI2400 runs in Summer A at Prato.

How much work is SCI2400?

The handbook expects about 48 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.

Does SCI2400 have an exam?

No. SCI2400 has 4 assessment tasks and no exam.

More details

Credit points
6
Level
2
Study level
Undergraduate
Faculty
Faculty of Science
Organisational unit
School of Physics and Astronomy
Type
Coursework
EFTSL
0.125
Student contribution
SCA Band 2
Study abroad
Not available
Handbook years
2020202220232024202520262027