Oil and Water by Olubusayo

Oil and Water by Olubusayo - June 2019 Scholarship Essay

Oil and water. They do not mix, and definitely do not belong together. This long-standing notion has been used to refer to numerous seemingly impossible combinations beyond chemistry. Art and science is a major one. For a long time, the rigid dichotomy between art and science remained the prevailing thought; one was either an artist or a scientist, nothing in between. This forbidden love between art and science worked its way into my life. Growing up, I had keen interests in both art and science and found it hard to separate these two aspects of my life. Sadly, I abandoned art to focus on a career as a medical doctor, convinced that the creativity of art had no association with the objectivity of science.
My interest in art returned when, as a college freshman, I took a course with Julia Buntaine. This class focused on STEAM (STEM + Art), filling the chasm between art and science. We discussed the strong connections art and science have with each other, using businesses and companies across New York as case studies. Because the large majority of us were science majors, Julia encouraged us to explore art and the benefits it has to offer. She showed us articles and research studies that demonstrated the huge role art plays on scientific success. From these discussions, I discovered that Nobel laureates and scientific geniuses are more likely than the average person to be polymaths - pursuing both science and art. As the class progressed, my interests in art resurfaced. I began to see art in science, and science in art. I would notice the use of color theory in business products, the artistic renditions of evolution in museums, the appealing animations used in TED videos, the strategic use of music in advertisements, the use of photography and filmography in the National Geographic Channel, and so on. As I put on my sneakers in the morning, I would stop to appreciate the joint role of designers and scientists in producing functional shoes with fashionable designs. In me grew a newfound appreciation for the wonderful interactions and influences of science and art on each other. In me also grew a refreshing change in my career choice. I found illustrations about biology both informative and artistically skillful, nailing down the complicated world of science through the creative lens of art. I decided to study art along with medical science, combined into medical illustration.
Medical illustration involves using artistic skills and scientific knowledge to illustrate medical concepts as clear and accurate as possible. The goal is to convey complex ideas through the means of 3D models, animations, sculptures, sketches and other visualization methods. The field of medical illustration combines art, science and technology for the purpose of communicating science to diverse audiences. This is integral in numerous medical professions and settings, For instance, how does a doctor easily explain a gastroenterostomy to a worried patient who has no medical training and is afraid of losing their life? To complicate matters, said the patient speaks a different language and is hard of hearing. The doctor could spend time translating, gesticulating and soliciting help from a colleague. But this time-consuming, frustrating method only leads to misunderstanding, misinformation and even more complications. This is where medical illustration comes in. Visuals .break through language, auditory, age and knowledge barriers. With one swift movement, the doctor grabs an illustrated brochure and gently guides the patient through the surgical process, saving everyone time and energy. Where words fall short, accurate and aesthetically pleasing illustrations can enhance interest and understanding in diverse audiences - from a worried father who does not understand a surgical procedure to be performed on his child, to a little girl eager to know what an embolism looks like, to a frustrated student who cannot picture phagocytosis. Medical illustrations increase understanding and encourage learning, and my aim is to be an instrument in fostering this among people.
Because medical illustration requires proficiency in the two distinct fields of art and science, my undergraduate degree revolves around both of them. Currently, I am a sophomore at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, in New Jersey. I major in Biology, with a minor in Art. After completing my undergraduate degree, I hope to earn a Master’s degree in Medical Illustration and officially begin work in the field as a skilled medical illustrator. The knowledge, skills and experiences gained during college will enable me to serve people in the most informative yet visually appealing ways possible.
All these would not have been possible without a great change in perspective. My experience studying art and science under Julia Buntaine helped redirect the course of my life. I learned to not limit myself based on conventions and was encouraged to pursue my passions in practical ways. Taking her class formed a bridge between my “right brain” and “left brain”, between art and science, between oil and water.