Parenting Guide

14 Celebrities Effortlessly Combine Science and Arts

Published by SchoolAdvisor | Mar 18, 2015

Days of when parents make their children choose between pursuing arts or the sciences at school are way over. Currently, there is a leading movement to integrate Art and Design into the ever-popular STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) focus and turn it into "STEAM".

Artists and scientists tend to approach problems with a similar open-mindedness and inquisitiveness — they both do not fear the unknown, preferring leaps to incremental steps.

Here are the celebrity role-models who have seamlessly integrated both science and art in their personal and professional lives:

Mayim Bialik - neuroscience+acting

From early January 1991 to May 1995, Dr. Mayim Bialik played the title character of NBC's Blossom but is currently well-known for playing Dr. Amy Farrah in The Big Bang Theory as a scientist. In real life, she is also a Ph.D. holding neuroscientist since 2007.

Bill Nye - mechanical engineering+comedy

William Sanford "Bill" Nye is an American science educator, comedian, television host, actor, writer, scientist, and former mechanical engineer.

He is best known as the host of the Disney/PBS children's science show "Bill Nye the Science Guy (1993–98)" and for his many subsequent appearances in popular media as a science educator.

Neil deGrasse Tyson - astrophysics+author+presenter

Neil deGrasse Tyson is an American astrophysicist, cosmologist, author, and science communicator. Since 1996, he has been the Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space in New York City. You may also be familiar of him from this meme:

Natalie Portman - psychology+acting

Natalie Portman and Marvel have teamed up to offer girls a chance to get involved in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) with the Ultimate Mentor Adventure.

Besides her on-screen credits, Portman is a Harvard graduate with a degree in Psychology. In 2008 she told Fox News, “I’d rather be smart than a movie star.” Why not have both?

Rowan Atkinson - electrical engineering+comedy

Most famous and loved as Mr. Bean, Rowan Atkinson first studied electrical engineering at Newcastle University and then continued for his Masters in Science at Oxford's Queen's College.

It was at Oxford that Atkinson acted in the Oxford University Dramatic Society, the Oxford Revue, and the Experimental Theater Club.

Eva Longoria - kinesiology+theater and TV

Acclaimed American actress, producer, director, activist, businesswoman, and philanthropist Eva Longoria who recently received her master’s degree in Chicano studies and political science from California State University, Northridge

Her thesis on “Success STEMS from Diversity: The Value of Latinas in STEM Careers.” also was named the 2015 Harvard University Artist of the Year.

Brian Cox - physics+music+presenter

Professor Brian Cox had some fame in the early 1990s as a keyboard player in the UK pop bands D:Ream and Dare.

A physicist and Professor of Particle Physics in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Manchester in the UK, he is best known to the public as the presenter of science programmes, especially "the Wonders of..." series and has been described as the natural successor for BBC's scientific programming by both David Attenborough and the late Patrick Moore.

Masi Oka - IT+math+special effects designer+acting

Arguably the biggest star from the acclaimed series Heroes, Masi Oka graduated from Brown University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science and mathematics.

While at Brown, he also served as the musical director of The Bear Necessities, an all-male acapella group. Oka landed his first job after graduation at Industrial Light & Magic, George Lucas's motion picture visual special effects company.

Hedy Lamarr - communications engineering+acting

Austrian actress Hedy Lamarr (born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler) also became a pioneer in the field of wireless communications following her emigration to the United States.

The "spread spectrum" technology that Lamarr helped to invent would galvanize the digital communications boom, forming the technical backbone that makes cellular phones, fax machines and other wireless operations possible.

George Takei - architecture+theatre and TV

Probably most widely loved for his role as Hikaru Sulu, helmsman of the USS Enterprise in the television series Star Trek, Takei (birth name Hosato Takei) enrolled in the University of California, Berkeley where he studied architecture.

Lisa Kudrow - psychobiology+acting

Popular for playing the character Phoebe and the "Smelly Cat" song in the 90's sitcom: Friends, Lisa Kudrow had planned a career as a medical researcher (she holds a Bachelor of Science in biology) following the footsteps of her father who is also a doctor specializing in headaches, even co-authored a research paper with him on the subject.

David Suzuki - environmental science+broadcaster

David Suzuki, Co-Founder of the David Suzuki Foundation, is an award-winning scientist, environmentalist and broadcaster. He is renowned for his radio and television programs that explain the complexities of the natural sciences in a compelling, easily understood way.

Rachel Riley - math+presenter

This bubbly co-presenter for the British quiz show Countdown read mathematics at Oriel College, Oxford and gained an upper second-class honours degree. In an article for BBC News, she said, "There's only one cool maths job around and I was lucky enough to get it so I'm absolutely thrilled."

Brian May - astrophysics+rock legend

Brian May is a musician, singer, songwriter and astrophysicist who achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of the rock band Queen. He was also Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University from 2008 to 2013.