Should arts and science come closer together? How are teachers bringing these subjects together in the classroom?

In this episode, Nina talks to Pamela Burnard, Professor of Arts, Creativities and Educations at the University of Cambridge in the UK. “When we look at creative industries, real world practitioners are not sitting in expert siloes, they are collaborating, they are co-authoring,” Pamela says. In medicine, culture, and technologies, people are connecting, she says.

Next, Nina meets Silvana Baico, a primary educator in Uruguay. Silvana connects learning with art and movement, looking for the math and geometry in dance. Silvana also trains teachers in this. ”Teacher training is essential because you give them the kind of fresh air, a sort of renewed desire to do things, to imagine new things,” says Silvana.

Ingrid Delange is a secondary teacher working in Luxembourg. “If you mix art and mathematics, you can definitely develop creativity,” Ingrid tells Nina. For Ingrid, the surrealist artist Salvador Dalí is a source of inspiration and she uses his work in the classroom. Students are able to see beyond the painting and create their own interpretations of this art.

Lastly, Nina speaks to Akina Lam, a teacher librarian in Hong Kong. “ I believe that by blending maths with stories, we can make it more engaging and accessible for everyone.” She recommends storybooks to children that incorporate mathematical concepts, such as The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

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Guests and resources

Pamela Burnard: LinkedIn, Instagram, X, Sculpting New Creativities in Primary Education (book)

STEAM gardens

Silvana Baico: Instagram

Ingrid Delange: LinkedIn

Akina Lam: LinkedIn

HK Gorden Dragon Book Awards organized by Akina Lam