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Integrating The Fields of Sciences and Arts at HSPVA

By Kate-Yeonjae Jeong, Matthew Jeong, Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, School Buzz Reporter | November 9, 2021

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TAS Inc. Club Members are (pictured, from left) Kanta Osako, Lucas Tirado, Gabriel Watts, Matthew Jeong, Hannah Horwath, JJ LeGrand, Carolyn Ray, and Ivy Gautam.

Majority of times, the fields of STEM and artistic disciplines are categorized as completely separate from one another. As students highly active and passionate in both areas of study, siblings KateYeonjae Jeong and Matthew Jeong created The Art of Science, Incorporated, or TAS Inc., to bridge the gap between the two areas via various community projects.

Both Kate and Matthew are artists focusing on creative writing at the Kinder High School of the Performing and Visual Arts. However, the two also show keen interest in the fields of STEM, such as science and mathematics.

“I don’t feel that I am exclusively one or the other,” says Matthew. So, the two founded TAS Inc.

“The organization aims to provide STEM enrichment opportunities for young students via workshops and to establish art therapy events,” says Kate.

Within Kinder HSPVA, the two siblings have created a club associated with the school for community outreach projects and events.

“The TAS Inc. Club is a branch within the TAS Inc. organization where we’ll focus on bringing educational opportunities and workshops for children,” says Matthew. The club consists of like-minded students passionate about STEAM and a Leadership Council.

When it comes to workshops, the council has a myriad of ideas planned. “We’re excited to share STEM activities that are not only engaging, but also exciting,” says Matthew, “Stimulating play like slime, for example, has an intriguing chemistry basis. Tessellations is a form of art that incorporates mathematics.”

Additionally, TAS Inc. plans to create art therapy events within the community. “Utilizing science, practicing the arts can provide a form of calming, expressive way of therapy,” says Kate. “With TAS Inc., I hope to set up further art therapy events with our community.”

Previously, as a middle schooler, Kate had partnered with local charity Noah’s House to establish an arts therapy event for residents. However, due to COVID-19, the event had been cut off, but with TAS Inc., events as such are set to be re-established.

“There are so many possibilities for us to take the merging of both fields into a larger scale,” says Kate. “I’m truly excited to bring the vision of STEAM and TAS Inc into life,” adds Matthew.