Undergraduates to blend sciences, arts in creativity event

January 30, 2014

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Students with backgrounds in the sciences and arts will come together to rethink the boundaries of creativity for the 2014 Creativity in the Arts and Sciences Event from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb. 1 in the Reitz Student Union Grand Ballroom and Studio G-6 in the Nadine M. McGuire Pavilion.

Presented by the University of Florida Howard Hughes Medical Institute Science for Life Program and UF’s College of Fine Arts, CASE is a family-friendly event that highlights students’ creativity, talent and cutting-edge research. The event is free and open to the public.

People can also attend the CASE Kickoff Event from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 31 in the McKnight Brain Institute DeWeese Auditorium, Room LG 101-A. This event is also free and includes a reception with refreshments.

Phoebe Cade Miles, founder and CEO of Cade Museum for Creativity + Invention, will present “Creativity at the Crossroads” and Jill Sonke, director of UF’s Center for Arts in Medicine will present “Arts in Medicine: Bridging the Healing and Creative Arts.” The kickoff event is free and includes a reception with refreshments.

Last year’s event brought together more than 108 students and 100 guests. Now in its eighth year, the CASE features science research posters, 2-D and 3-D art exhibits, film and performances in dance, music and theatre. More than 125 students from eight UF colleges and about 50 different departments and disciplinary programs as well as students from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Emory University and Louisiana State University will compete for prizes in three categories: science, art or a science-art collaboration.

“I strongly believe that science requires creativity just as much as art does,” said Ben Dunn, director of UF-HHMI Science for Life Program. “CASE is about getting students to come together and challenge each other to be creative and find new ways to interact.”

UF faculty, administrators and experts from the community will be judges for the event. More than $10,000 will be awarded to further students’ academic pursuits as an undergraduate. Award winners will be announced two weeks following the event.

“The College of Fine Arts is pleased to work with the UF-HHMI Science for Life Program to present this wonderful annual event,” said Lucinda Lavelli, the dean of the College of Fine Arts. “We hope those interested in the sciences and the arts as well as members of the community will join us this year to celebrate the power of creativity and collaboration.”

To learn more, visit sfl.aa.ufl.edu/CASE, or follow UF-HHMI Science for Life Program on Twitter @UFSFL and like it on Facebook. You can also follow the UF College of Fine Arts on Twitter @UFFineArts and like it on Facebook. Stay updated with all the CASE happenings by using the hashtag #2014CASE.