Throughout history, art and science have been deeply intertwined—inseparable, even.

From the Renaissance-age manuscripts contained in Leonardo da Vinci’s Codex Leicester to the hundreds of 19th-century botanical diagrams created by pioneering botanist and painter Marianne North, it is easy to see why fluency in both disciplines is a prized ability.

However, there is a growing sense that present-day educational, career, and funding practices are leading the two fields to drift apart. While Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) education is often seen as a way to integrate these disciplines, we have wondered: What defines meaningful STEAM? How can it move beyond surface-level connections to foster deeper collaboration? And what challenges must be addressed to ensure art and science collaborations are impactful and transformative?

To answer these and other questions, the Aspen Institute Science & Society Program invited practitioners working to make art–science engagement a two-way street to share their insights through a series of roundtable discussions throughout the summer and fall of 2024. Their expertise spans the sciences, arts, and beyond. Participants represented fields as varied as the life sciences, basic sciences, materials science, and social and behavioral sciences, alongside the visual, performance, and literary arts. Some were hybrid practitioners, such as scientists who are also visual artists or playwrights who collaborate with researchers. The group included conservation scientists, biologists, molecular and chemical biologists, engineers, chemists, and futurists, as well as museum directors, curators, data scientists, a game designer, and a theater director. Together, this interdisciplinary cohort illustrated how the shared foundations of art and science—rooted in observation, exploration, and creative problem-solving—can redefine discovery and drive transformative change.

Generated by convening experts whose personal and professional identities intersect, this report builds on prior efforts to integrate art and science, offering actionable recommendations to strengthen STEAM initiatives through interdisciplinary collaboration, innovative education, and meaningful public engagement. By integrating these disciplines, the recommendations illuminate how integrating art and science can reimagine their connections, inspire innovation, and approach pressing societal challenges with purpose and creativity.

We thank 2023 Science & Society Interns in Civic Service Rachel Edelstein and Davina Thompson, who conceptualized this project and helped identify participants.

This work is supported by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund.