Toward designing new sensoaesthetic materials

Abstract

Abstract In ancient societies, there was no arts/science split. The development of materials was driven both by aesthetic and technological goals. At the end of the 19 th century, things changed dramatically. Scientists started being able to analyze composition, detect structure, and make a link between structure and properties. The subsequent 20 th -century revolution in new materials changed almost all aspects of human activity. However, it was not without serious side-effects, the first of which has been that the materials science community has willingly marginalized itself. The second is the eradication of interest in the sensual and aesthetic properties of materials, and thus the banishment of the creative urges that arrive via the senses. This paper discusses these issues, and suggests that collaboration with the materials arts community offers exciting new challenges and could create an intellectual community that is not just more culturally and ethically aware, but also nurtures more innovative science.