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BOB HIRSHON (host):
Playing with science…I’m Bob Hirshon and this is Science Update.
Not everyone who takes a science class is going to become a scientist, but everyone benefits from basic science literacy. Physicist Brian Schwartz, director of the City University of New York’s Science and the Arts program, thinks one way to increase science literacy is by creating performance art about science. For instance, the Met’s recent opera called Dr. Atomic, about the development of the atom bomb.
BRIAN SCHWARTZ (City University of New York)
You make an experience of going to a play about science more interesting by complementing it, by bringing the play to the public, talking about the play, then talking about the science in the play, talking about the theatrics of the play, talking with the playwright, there’s a whole sort of event that you can make associated with it.
HIRSHON:
Schwartz and his colleagues are currently working with universities to bring science and arts departments together to collaborate on performance pieces. I’m Bob Hirshon, for AAAS, the science society.