Join us for this workshop to explore the Structures, Systems, & Society: Work at the Interface of Art and Engineering exhibition in the Teaching Gallery at the Palmer Museum. The workshop will aid faculty in thinking about how they can integrate the exhibition into their classrooms.

The disciplines of engineering and art are often seen as separate to the point of being oppositional. But from the ancient world to the present day, artists, makers, and scientists have used engineering principles to solve creative challenges and push the boundaries of their mediums.

A diverse selection of objects from the Palmer’s collection appear alongside works by Penn State makers to investigate three intersections between art and engineering. Structures explores the physical forms and frameworks that support innovation, blending function and aesthetics in design. Systems examines the interconnected processes behind artistic and technological creation, highlighting shared methods like visualization and iteration. Society focuses on the cultural and ethical impact of engineering, showing how art fosters empathy, equity, and responsible innovation.
 
The workshop will be led by Palmer and Leonhard Center staff, include a tour of the exhibition, and incorporate discussion and idea generation on how the gallery can be utilized with engineering students in curricular or co-curricular ways.