Left brain vs. right brain: which side do you identify with most? 

Some people point to their various skills as proof of a clear divide between the brain’s two halves – the left side responsible for logic and analytical thinking, with the right handling intuition and creative faculties. But no one can function with only half a brain. Differences aside, the two halves work together to create a whole, functioning person.  

Two colleges at the University of South Carolina embraced that idea at their second annual STEMart event Thursday, April 2. The Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) partnered with the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management (HRSM) to put on the event celebrating the intersection of art and science. The event’s motto, “Bridging Art and Engineering,” reflects a mission to close the perceived gap between the left and right brain.  

Sponsored by CEC alumnus Jim Wiseman (’79 mechanical engineering), the current President of Development for the resort chain Margaritaville, the event invited CEC students to display their original artwork in a competition for a $1,000 scholarship. Attendees mingled while observing each piece, pointing out mathematical equations and lines of code hidden beneath pastels and pencil shading.  

Computer science student Joe Hardy, standing beside his piece titled “Encoded City,” emphasized the necessary, but often missed, connection between creativity and science. His drawing of a city skyline, illuminated by lights within distant skyscrapers, featured lines of code embedded in the dark background. Each light was a binary character in the string of code that formed the image. Hardy plans to continue promoting this intersection of arts and science by becoming a computer science instructor and teaching his very own elective class, “Coding for Artists.” 

“Doing art helps me think more creatively when doing code and solving problems,” Hardy said. “We are stronger together, and smarter together.” 

 CEC Dean Hossein Haj-Hariri echoed that idea. He noted that many students in the college are musicians involved in the Carolina Band, that even scientific diagrams need to be drawn, and that “code itself is artsy, when you look.” 

“This artwork represents what goes on in this college,” he said. “It’s all about creativity, how our brains are wired. All of that is art. We create art.”  

The inspiration for this contest came from a conversation between Wiseman and Haj-Hariri during a walking tour of the CEC. Noticing the blank walls of each hallway, Wiseman provided funds to bring artwork to the building, which inspired Haj-Hariri to think further about the college’s landscaping and design. Future projects include a mural and greenscaping a 300-meter stretch of floodplain deemed unsafe to build.  

“If you can’t build it,” Haj-Hariri said, “then create it.” 

Michael Sagas, dean of the College of HRSM, further explained the purpose of the collaboration. 

“We are using art to solve scientific problems,” he said. “We are working to show the emotion, meaning and purpose in art. We are happy to inspire these students in their work.” 

Though Wiseman could not attend the event due to illness, Haj-Hariri praised his contribution and his vision during opening remarks. He said support from alumni like Wiseman is essential in growing and maintaining educational and aesthetic standards in all colleges.  

“He brought us on this path,” Haj-Hariri said, “and without his support, we would not be here.” 

The contest winner was Meghan McFarland, a junior studying biomedical engineering. Her piece, a crocheted sculpture titled “Butterfly of Chaos,” represents the chaos theory, also known as the butterfly effect – the belief that even one small choice can produce massively different outcomes.  

“I explain it as a tangible way to boost intangible concepts,” she said. “I was inspired by women in STEM using art to bridge the gap between math equations and art.” 

The theory of left- vs. right-brain is still widely held, but events like STEMart highlight the power of combining both perspectives. 

“This is about the arts and engineering coming together,” Haj-Hariri said.  

 

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