Recent studies suggest that the more medical students were exposed to courses in the humanities, the more likely they were to possess empathy, wisdom and emotional intelligence. Because scientists and humanists often learn and work differently, the field of biomedical humanities examines the human side of healthcare through disciplines like literature, history and philosophy.

This past spring, two new research centers, the Center for Science, Technology and Society (CSTS) and the Center for Biomedical Research (CBR), co‑presented the first Biomedical Humanities Symposium at S&T.

“Through this holistic approach, students, health professionals and other researchers consider how to use ethical judgment, compassionate communication and sound decision-making along with their scientific expertise,” says Kate Drowne, CSTS director, associate dean of academic affairs for the College of Arts, Sciences, and Business, and a professor of English.

The CSTS was formed in 2018 to give S&T humanists, scientists and engineers a chance to collaborate on research that addresses how science and technology shape, and are shaped by, our society, culture, politics and the environment.

The CBR is a multidisciplinary research center with a mission to research and develop advanced biomaterials, devices and therapeutics for applications in the biomedical industry. Its research focuses on biomedical engineering.