CORVALLIS, Ore. -  Oregon State University will celebrate the relationship between the arts and science throughout the 2016-17 school year with a new series of events and activities called SPARK.

The goal of SPARK, which will include dozens of events and activities on the OSU campus in Corvallis as well as across the state, is to showcase the intersections of the arts and science, their critical interplay with one another and the rich partnerships and collaborations that can occur among varied disciplines. Events will include guest speakers, music and theater performances, art exhibits and more.

"SPARK was created to show how creativity and science connect in the real world," said Larry Rodgers, dean of the College of Liberal Arts. "We are excited to offer the university and the public a year-long series of events that celebrates the many ways in which the liberal arts and sciences are the bedrock of OSU's nearly 150-year history."

Among the upcoming events are:

  • Oct. 4: Science fiction author David Brin, whose 1985 novel "The Postman," was set largely in Oregon, will speak at 6 p.m. in the Construction and Engineering Hall at The LaSells Stewart Center at OSU. The talk is free and open to the public.
  • Oct. 20: Trek Theatre performance of Star Trek: TNG's "The Drumhead," hosted by the Anarres Project at OSU, will be at 7 p.m., Learning Innovation Center, Room 228.
  • Oct. 21: Author Eileen Pollack will speak on "The Facts Behind the Fiction: Research and Creative Writing," at 4 p.m. in Memorial Union Journey Room and will speak about her nonfiction book, "The Only Woman in the Room: Why Science is Still A Boys' Club" at 7:30 p.m. in the Valley Library Rotunda.
  • Nov. 19: The OSU Marching Band will present "The Art in Science, the Science in Art," a special half-time show illustrating how the arts and sciences overlap. The show will feature algorithmic music composed by a mathematician and formations based on the drawings of M.C. Escher.


"From small, intimate workshops, to residencies for arts students in scientific labs, to larger events such as an arts and science-themed halftime at Reser Stadium, SPARK offers a wide range of events to engage the campus and the community," said Charles Robinson, who is leading the SPARK organizing team. "From one end of the campus and Corvallis to the other, and throughout Oregon, the program of SPARK events will explore the heart of the OSU mission: the continuous search for new knowledge and solutions."

In all, more than 60 events on campus and elsewhere are being planned or will be co-sponsored by SPARK over the 2016-17 school year. A calendar and additional information about upcoming events is available on the SPARK website, spark.oregonstate.edu.

The series is sponsored by the OSU College of Education, the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Science, the Honors College, the OSU Library & Press and the Division of Outreach & Engagement.

Source: 

Charles Robinson, 609-902-3516, [email protected]

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