…as opposed to grounding art in science.

We often hear about SciArtCult projects where an ‘artist’ has got involved with a ‘scientist’ and used that to inspire their art work. I came from an arts background, as I’m sure have a number of currently working scientists and I was wondering whether anyone out there would be happy to admit being inspired by their art to work in science?

I’ll try to get the ball rolling as I am sure that I’m not alone in this, even if it is taboo to admit feeling your way rather than thinking your way into science! Personally, as a young composer and philosopher, I was interested in how universally and powerfully music affected our emotions and yet was not content with a psychological “soft science” approach to the question. This initial inspiration has taken me through the domains of evo-devo biology, neuroscience, medicine and finally biophysics. Currently I’m working on a biophysics PhD which imbues all the questions of the young composer with, I hope, an ever improving basic scientific foundation.

I know I can’t be alone in coming at the subject from such an ‘impractical’ perspective (it has indeed been most impractical), as even great scientists over the years have admitted inspiration from unexpected sources… So if anyone has been inspired by the great works of art, culture and the humanities to pursue their scientific studies, then I, at least, would be really interested to hear your story!