The intersection and overlap of microscopy and art is a beautiful thing. And this beauty came to life at the 2025 Creativity Rising National Arts Integration and STEAM Conference hosted by The Institute for Arts Integration and STEAM. Educators, administrators, and district coordinators of formal and informal STEAM programs came together to celebrate the power of teaching through the arts. Foldscope was an integral part of this event as sponsors, exhibitors, and workshop presenters.
Figure 1. Picture Holly Stuart (Education Specialist) and Chris Lowe (Director of Growth) at the Foldscope booth and the conference program booklet
(Photo Credit: Holly A. Stuart)
Foldscope Instruments is a company with a focus on equity and access to high quality science experiences. Creating tools and spaces that invite diverse audiences to participate in the world of science is what drives us to do all we can to improve science education worldwide. And we feel that the natural fit of Foldscopes with arts integration initiatives will help to accelerate this improvement.
Figure 2. Question presented to attendees of the Foldscope workshop
(Photo Credit: Holly A. Stuart)
We already knew about the symbiotic relationship that allows the arts to bring microscopy to life and microscopy to give meaning to the elements of art, but we were completely caught off guard by the response to our Foldscope workshop session titled “The Elements of Art and Microscopy.” The room, packed with more than 70 educators, revealed that there is deep interest in, and need for, arts integration in education. And after Susan Magsamen, author of “Your Brain on Art,” gave her keynote speech, this fascination made sense. She spoke about research in a new branch of science called neuroaesthetics. Neuroaesthetics is the study of how the arts and aesthetic experiences change our brains, bodies, and behaviors. Scientists are using this knowledge to advance best practices in education and improve mental health. And the educators at the Foldscope workshop were hungry for tools and strategies to take back to their students.
Figure 3. Picture of workshop attendees looking through their Foldscopes
(Photo Credit: Holly A. Stuart)
While the workshop focused on microscopy and visual art, we also connected with math, music, dance, and English teachers to brainstorm ways they could use Foldscopes in their learning spaces. And the excitement continued beyond the workshop. The following day our booth was visited by teachers enthusiastically sharing their Foldscope pictures, poetry, and lesson ideas! We did on the spot demonstrations showing the emotional response to microscopic images illuminated with different lighting techniques. Administrators and district coordinators asked about scheduling Foldscope training and workshops to ensure their teachers had the confidence and skills to utilize Foldscopes in their classrooms in the coming school year.
Figure 4. Sugar crystals viewed under a Foldscope 2.0 at 50X magnification using brightfield, darkfield, and reflective lighting (top row) and teachers visiting the Foldscope booth (bottom row)
(Photo Credit: Holly A. Stuart)
Arts Integration and STEAM programs are the perfect ecosystems for introducing Foldscopes and microscopy. It is our hope that the relationships cultivated during the 2025 Creativity Rising National Arts Integration and STEAM Conference will take root and grow, creating future generations of students who see themselves as both scientists and artists.
Figure 5. The Future is Foldscope!
(Photo Credit: Holly A. Stuart)
Curious about how to bring Foldscopes to your students? Reach out to us to learn more at growth@Foldscope.com, holly@foldscope.com, or christopher@foldscope.com.
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