Dean of Arts Professor Robert Greenberg gave a presentation titled “STEAM Power: Putting the Arts into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)” in San Francisco on October 2 and London on October 6. The presentation discussed how Arts can work together with science, technology, engineering and mathematics to prepare graduates for the jobs of the future as well as highlighting the value of a BA degree. Drawing on his own background of study in Slavic languages and literatures, Professor Greenberg spoke about the need for modern graduates to understand geopolitics and societal challenges, to be able to strategise and analyse, and to understand the past and future of the world around them.
He presented evidence from the UK that suggests at least one-third of CEOs from companies listed on the FTSE 100 have Arts degrees, and discussed how Arts graduates from both home and away have become influential leaders- from Prime Ministers and Members of Parliament, to employees of Goldman Sachs and the United Nations.
Professor Greenberg added that he was inspired by a quote from the late Steve Jobs, CEO and co-founder of Apple; “Technology alone is not enough. It’s technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields us the result that makes our heart sing.”
In San Francisco he was joined by New Zealand Consul-General Leon Grice, as they discussed the role Arts can play in technology, using the disciplinary area of Media, Film and Television as an example. Tom Mockridge, Chief Executive Officer for Virgin Media joined him at the London event, discussing his career in print and broadcasting. Television journalist Carol Hirschfeld and filmmaker Roseanne Liang both also recorded a special clip for the events, which detailed the value of their Arts educations.
Both events were greatly successful and well attended by both friends and alumni of the University of Auckland.
