Our economic growth and health as a nation rely on our collective ability to innovate. The most successful innovations – across healthcare, education, and the environment – result from the combination of creative thinking, world-class technology, and cutting-edge design. But today’s education system needs to do a better job of setting our students up for success in today’s global workplace. One area we think is critical is around fostering creative thinking. Creativity can no longer be treated as an elective in education; it must be core to the way we teach and learn. STEAM – adding Art and creativity to the national imperative around Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) – is an important step forward here.

In collaboration with the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), and a broad range of education and industry partners, Adobe is working to drive awareness and impact in this area. Part of this work will take place at the SXSW Education event next week in Austin, Texas, in the panel session called, “STEM to STEAM: Full Circle from Education to Economy.” I am thrilled to join other panelists such as Ainissa Ramirez (Yale University), Rosemarie Truglio (Sesame Workshop), Matt Goldman (Blue School & Blue Man Group) and John Maeda (Rhode Island School of Design) to discuss how art and design methods can be introduced into STEM-centric learning. We’d like to invite you to join us in one of the following ways:

1. Join us at SXSWedu. If you are attending this year’s SXSWedu conference, please join us on March 6 at 1:30 p.m. at the Austin Convention Center Room 16AB. We’re also hosting a STEAM social that night. For more information and to RSVP, go here.
2. Join the conversation. Share your thoughts and comments using the hashtag #SXSWSTEAM. If you are attending the SXSWedu panel please share your takeaways using the above hashtag.
3. Tweet to Give. For every mention of #AdobeSXSW on Twitter and Instagram, we will donate $1 up to $10,000 to STEM to STEAM. Learn more about our conversation for a cause here.

Thanks,

Jon Perera: @jon_perera

SXSW attendees: let’s talk about the intersection of creativity with data at this year’s festival. Starting March 4^th through March 12^th, we’ll hold the conversation on Twitter and Instagram with questions such as “Is data killing creativity?” or “Are you a data geek, creative pro, or both?”

Follow us @Adobe for the questions to answer and reply using #AdobeSXSW. Also, take pictures of images that inspire your creativity at SXSW and post to Instagram using #AdobeSXSW. For every mention of #AdobeSXSW on Twitter and Instagram, we will donate $1 up to $10,000 (!) to STEM to STEAM, an initiative focused on integrating art and science into education curricula to prepare the next generation for success.

Will you join our conversation for a cause? Let us know in the comments.

In addition, we will be hosting two days of SXSW sessions focused on the Adobe Creative Cloud, Edge tools and services, and myths about digital marketing. Get a full summary of what we’ll be up to here and mark your calendars with our Eventbrite invitations:

• Day 1: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/5636246164
• Day 2: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/5647650274

See you there!