{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,24]],"date-time":"2025-10-24T05:29:45Z","timestamp":1761283785064,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":57,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,24]],"date-time":"2025-10-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1761264000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Bioinform."],"abstract":"<jats:p>This perspective paper examines the profound cognitive and methodological parallels between scientific and artistic research, challenging the traditional distinction between the two domains. While science and art use different languages, both emerge from the human drive for creativity and understanding. We argue that scientific inquiry, often presented as strictly objective and methodical, inherently shares with art the need for imagination, flexibility, and interpretative thinking. Drawing on neuroscience, education, design theory, and the visual arts, we highlight how artistic practices, particularly in the visual arts, can enhance scientific learning, innovation, and public engagement. We advocate integrating art into scientific training and research to foster a more creative and inclusive epistemology. Through examples in microbiology, education, and data visualization, we show how the arts can support deeper understanding, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and more effective science communication. Ultimately, we call for a shift toward a more integrated approach that embraces the complementary strengths of both art and science in advancing knowledge and societal impact.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fbinf.2025.1708311","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,24]],"date-time":"2025-10-24T05:26:35Z","timestamp":1761283595000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Why science needs art"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"5","author":[{"given":"Giulia","family":"Ghisleni","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Christian","family":"Stolte","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Megan","family":"Gozzard","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Lea","family":"Von Soosten","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Antonia","family":"Bruno","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"200","DOI":"10.59324\/ejahss.2024.1(3).18","article-title":"Creative visual arts and biology processes: examining emergent Bi\/Multilingual high schoolers meanings","volume":"1","author":"Aghasafari","year":"2024","journal-title":"Eur. J. Arts, Humanit. Soc. Sci."},{"key":"B2","unstructured":"What is ARTIS-Micropia?\n          \n          \n          2025"},{"key":"B3","volume-title":"Creating art and education with microbes","year":"2018"},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"303","DOI":"10.1093\/bjps\/axp011","article-title":"How science textbooks treat scientific method: a philosopher\u2019s perspective","volume":"60","author":"Blachowicz","year":"2009","journal-title":"Br. J. Philosophy Sci."},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"110959","DOI":"10.1016\/j.isci.2024.110959","article-title":"The one health approach in urban ecosystem rehabilitation: an evidence-based framework for designing sustainable cities","volume":"27","author":"Bruno","year":"2024","journal-title":"iScience"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"616","DOI":"10.1111\/bioe.12391","article-title":"Merging arts and bioethics: an interdisciplinary experiment in cultural and scientific mediation","volume":"31","author":"Couture","year":"2017","journal-title":"Bioethics"},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"115","DOI":"10.1111\/1468-5949.00162","article-title":"Learning how to learn, art education and the \u2018background","volume":"18","author":"Cuncliffe","year":"1999","journal-title":"J. Art and Des. Educ."},{"key":"B8","unstructured":"Virtual reality for data visualisation\n          \n          \n          2025"},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"733","DOI":"10.1080\/09500693.2023.2256459","article-title":"Has the coronavirus pandemic changed students\u2019 conceptions of microorganisms? Evidence from elementary school","volume":"46","author":"Edelsztein","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int. J. Sci. Educ."},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.1007\/BF01064665","article-title":"Understanding: art and science","volume":"95","author":"Elgin","year":"1993","journal-title":"Synthese"},{"key":"B11","volume-title":"What art does: an unfinished theory","author":"Eno","year":"2025"},{"key":"B12","unstructured":"Fanny angelina Hesse: a graphic novel\n          \n          \n          2025"},{"key":"B13","volume-title":"Microbiology in art","year":"2025"},{"key":"B14","volume-title":"Against method: outline of an anarchistic theory of knowledge","author":"Feyerabend","year":"2020"},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-031-78357-9_14","article-title":"Creative synergies: the interplay of art, science, and technology in contemporary culture","volume-title":"Human-technology interaction","author":"Fuchs","year":"2025"},{"key":"B16","volume-title":"Genomic data science fact sheet","year":"2025"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3726\/978-1-4539-1308-6","article-title":"Artistic research methodology","author":"Hannula","year":"2014","journal-title":"Peter Lang. U. S."},{"key":"B18","volume-title":"Scientific method","author":"Hepburn","year":"2015"},{"key":"B19","volume-title":"Genetics today: proceedings of the XI international congress of genetics, the hague, the Netherlands, September 1963. With MBLWHOI library","author":"Geerts","year":"1963"},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"931","DOI":"10.1038\/nature03001","article-title":"Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome","volume":"431","year":"2004","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.4324\/9781315009292","volume-title":"Principles of gestalt psychology","author":"Koffka","year":"2013"},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"ar33","DOI":"10.1187\/cbe.18-01-0004","article-title":"Connecting structure\u2013property and structure\u2013function relationships across the disciplines of chemistry and biology: exploring student perceptions","volume":"17","author":"Kohn","year":"2018","journal-title":"CBE\u2014Life Sci. Educ."},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"329","DOI":"10.1080\/03080188.2023.2193073","article-title":"Emotions in scientific practice","volume":"48","author":"Kozlov","year":"2023","journal-title":"Interdiscip. Sci. Rev."},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"860","DOI":"10.1038\/35057062","article-title":"Initial sequencing and analysis of the human genome","volume":"409","author":"Lander","year":"2001","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"B25","article-title":"Dear data - the project","author":"Lupi","year":"2014","journal-title":"Dear Data"},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1117","DOI":"10.1080\/095006900429475","article-title":"Memories and scientific literacy: remembering exhibits from a science centre","volume":"22","author":"Medved","year":"2000","journal-title":"Int. J. Sci. Educ."},{"key":"B27","volume-title":"The why, what, where, and how of deeper learning in American secondary schools","author":"Mehta","year":"2015"},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1193","DOI":"10.1007\/s11948-018-0050-4","article-title":"Scientific ethics: a new approach","volume":"25","author":"Menapace","year":"2019","journal-title":"Sci. Eng. Ethics"},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1145\/3664214","article-title":"GPT-ME: a Human-AI cognitive assemblage","volume":"7","author":"Meshi","year":"2024","journal-title":"Proc. ACM Comput. Graph. Interact. Tech."},{"key":"B30","volume-title":"The AI on my shoulder (2025) - interactive performance with AI agents","author":"Meshi","year":"2025"},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"687","DOI":"10.1187\/cbe.12-08-0114","article-title":"Engagement and skill development in biology students through analysis of art","volume":"12","author":"Milkova","year":"2013","journal-title":"CBE\u2014Life Sci. Educ."},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"104059","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cag.2024.104059","article-title":"Virtual reality inspection of chromatin 3D and 2D data","volume":"124","author":"Molina","year":"2024","journal-title":"Comput. and Graph."},{"key":"B33","volume-title":"Da cosa nasce cosa: Appunti per una metodologia progettuale","author":"Munari","year":"2018"},{"key":"B34","volume-title":"Design as art. Penguin modern classics","author":"Munari","year":"2008"},{"key":"B35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.4324\/9781315129990","volume-title":"Sociology as an art form","author":"Nisbet","year":"2017"},{"key":"B36","article-title":"The nature of learning: using research to inspire practice","volume-title":"Educational research and innovation","author":"Dumont","year":"2010"},{"key":"B37","article-title":"Understanding innovative pedagogies: key themes to analyse new approaches to teaching and learning","year":"2018"},{"key":"B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1049","DOI":"10.1080\/0950069032000032199","article-title":"Attitudes towards science: a review of the literature and its implications","volume":"25","author":"Osborne","year":"2003","journal-title":"Int. J. Sci. Educ."},{"key":"B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"435","DOI":"10.1177\/10755470211011166","article-title":"Foregrounding backgrounds: how scientists conceive art to express the invisible","volume":"43","author":"Parks","year":"2021","journal-title":"Sci. Commun."},{"key":"B40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.4324\/9780203148211","volume-title":"International handbook of emotions in education","author":"Pekrun","year":"2014"},{"key":"B41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e70099","DOI":"10.1111\/1751-7915.70099","article-title":"When science meets creativity: elevating microbiology education with art\u2014two personal experiences","volume":"18","author":"Rodr\u00edguez","year":"","journal-title":"Microb. Biotechnol."},{"key":"B42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e70236","DOI":"10.1111\/1751-7915.70236","article-title":"An unexpected facet of extremophiles: their aesthetic potential in artistic expression","volume":"18","author":"Rodr\u00edguez","year":"","journal-title":"Microb. Biotechnol."},{"key":"B43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"121","DOI":"10.2190\/EM.31.2.EOV.1","article-title":"Why we need arts education","volume":"31","author":"Roege","year":"2013","journal-title":"Empir. Stud. Arts"},{"key":"B44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"fnad129","DOI":"10.1093\/femsle\/fnad129","article-title":"Microbial pathogens in the movies","volume":"370","author":"S\u00e1nchez-Angulo","year":"2023","journal-title":"FEMS Microbiol. Lett."},{"key":"B45","unstructured":"Microbe art can educate and correct misconceptions about microorganisms on JSTOR\n          \n          \n            \n              Sangweme\n              D.\n            \n            \n              Lampert\n              E.\n            \n            \n              Mcintosh\n              E.\n            \n          \n          \n          2020"},{"key":"B46","volume-title":"Studio thinking 3: the real benefits of visual arts education","author":"Sheridan","year":"2022"},{"key":"B47","volume-title":"Stelarc ear on arm","year":"2006"},{"key":"B48","unstructured":"We the bacteria notes toward biotic architecture triennale Milano\n          \n          \n          2025"},{"key":"B49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.3389\/fnhum.2012.00008","article-title":"The role of the visual arts in the enhancing the learning process","volume":"6","author":"Tyler","year":"2012","journal-title":"Front. Hum. Neurosci."},{"key":"B50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e12663","DOI":"10.1111\/josi.12663","article-title":"Psychological distance to science affects science evaluations","volume":"81","author":"Ve\u0107kalov","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Soc. Issues"},{"key":"B51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1304","DOI":"10.1126\/science.1058040","article-title":"The sequence of the human genome","volume":"291","author":"Venter","year":"2001","journal-title":"Sci. (New York, N.Y.)"},{"key":"B52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2207","DOI":"10.1007\/s11165-013-9352-3","article-title":"Scientists reflect on why they chose to study science","volume":"43","author":"Venville","year":"2013","journal-title":"Res. Sci. Educ."},{"key":"B53","volume-title":"About vizbi","year":"2025"},{"key":"B54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"26","DOI":"10.1525\/abt.2025.87.1.26","article-title":"Drawn to BiologyStudent attitudes and perceptions about visual art integration in a biology laboratory","volume":"87","author":"Wiedemeier","year":"2025","journal-title":"Am. Biol. Teach."},{"key":"B55","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"33","DOI":"10.20368\/1971-8829\/1135559","article-title":"Creative learning in STEM: towards the design of an approach between theory and reflective practice","volume":"17","author":"Xanthoudaki","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. E-Learning Knowl. Soc."},{"key":"B56","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"724","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tibtech.2015.09.011","article-title":"Bioart","volume":"33","author":"Yetisen","year":"2015","journal-title":"Trends Biotechnol."},{"key":"B57","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"247","DOI":"10.1007\/s44217-024-00354-w","article-title":"Enriching STEAM education with visual art: education benefits, teaching examples, and trends","volume":"3","author":"Zhang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Discov. Educ."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Bioinformatics"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fbinf.2025.1708311\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,24]],"date-time":"2025-10-24T05:26:40Z","timestamp":1761283600000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fbinf.2025.1708311\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,24]]},"references-count":57,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fbinf.2025.1708311"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fbinf.2025.1708311","relation":{},"ISSN":["2673-7647"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2673-7647","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,24]]},"article-number":"1708311"}}