STEM Message
February 28, 2010Some STEAMY Thoughts on Creativity submitted by Pete Mickelson
Pete Mickelson taught Pre-Engineering for a year at the Fiddlehead Art and Science Center in Gray
Last month a bunch of us attended the STEM Summit in Augusta, where the focus was on the NSF’s new acronym for “Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.” The day was spent discussing how important these are to Maine’s economy, and how we need folks with these skills to attract firms from away to come settle here.
It was a great event, and the word “creative” was heard a lot. Argy Nestor was there, too, and we shared a few thoughts on the “A” (arts) word during a moment’s break. For fun, I built her a car out of a handout on the table, a couple of free pencils and some give-away Life Savers.
You see, I’m an engineer — whatever that means. My Dad was, too, so I sort of grew up knowing I was. In fact, I grew up thinking all kids were engineers. I’ve always been curious, thrill at using my ingenuity, delight in showing off my inventions, keep trying when they don’t work right . . .
Do you know anyone like that?
Okay . . . do you know the meaning of the word “art?” It literally means “one’s ability to make things.” And things that are made are “artifacts.” In fact, “fact” means “to make.”
So where is “art” in all this discussion of STEM? Argy suggested it was right in the middle, and I couldn’t argue with her. “STEAM” How appropriate! It was — after all — the steam ‘engine’ that brought about the revolution in our way of living. And “engine” is from the Latin word for ingenuity.
me arts ed 
At first, I wouldn’t see any connection between art and engineering. But giving it a little thought, the relations of one to the other begin to become visible out of a murky background. For all its beauty and wonders Maine does not quickly come to mind as the place where bright eyes looking forward seem to find a home. Now I feel better knowing there are those who choose to look beyond the ways that great-grandfather did it and found that good enough.
Now I think I get it: artists and engineers are persons of vision and imagination who construe our resources into a bright future.
Good work Mickelson; someone’s thinking!
I wanted to briefly report on last Saturday’s “Engineers Week” celebration up in Orono. We had some 800 kids drop in to see what we engineers do with our ingenuity, and 100 or more engineers hosting them. Robotics competitions, static electricity fun, design-your-own floating windmill platorm . . . Creativity was in the air. Laughter everywhere. “Hey, I wanna try that!” The only sad faces a couple of toddlers who’s moms wouldn’t let them out of their strollers. : )
These kids are Maine’s future, and they’re eager to get going. Engineering’s all about creativity, and they can taste it. We are in good hands!