“The tenets of white supremacy that show up of individualism and exceptionalism and perfectionism… it’s either-or thinking, and there's no subtlety, there's no gray area. “As an astrophysicist, I'm a product of institutions that are steeped in systemic racism and white supremacy,” Gosnell says. Gosnell sees this division rooted in the systemic racism and sexism that the physics institution has been born into, which limits what physics could be and limits the people who feel welcome practicing it. “Both artists and scientists are just observing things about the world, making interpretations about those observations, and then sharing their interpretation,” says Gosnell.ĭespite the strong ties she feels between art and science, she’s had to work for years in a society divided.

For her, physics comes most naturally as a creative process and for the duration of her career learning and practicing physics, she’s struggled with external pressures to separate her creative and scientific selves.

Natalie Gosnell, a professor of physics at Colorado College, wants to change the way we see and practice physics. We’ve grown up in a society that largely dichotomizes these two characteristics. It’s a ridiculous question - you certainly can be both creative and skilled at math - but it’s one you’ve probably heard before. So, are you a “math person,” or are you more of a creative type?

Physics science art