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The Swope Art Museum has launched "Full STEAM Ahead," a year-long program integrating arts into STEM education for children and adults. The curriculum, developed by Dr. Sujata Gopalan, aims to foster creative thinking and innovative problem-solving by combining arts with STEM skills.
Experience STEAM in action! Each month, our enthusiastic instructors bring exciting lessons and hands-on activities to Ryves Youth Center and 14th and Chestnut Community Center. These engaging sessions are carefully aligned with K-12 standards, ensuring educational value while sparking curiosity in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. By integrating creative art projects, we foster innovative thinking and problem-solving skills, making STEM subjects come alive for young learners in a fun and interactive way.
Learning knows no age limit! Our STEAM program extends beyond youth to embrace adult learners too. We believe in fostering creativity and knowledge at every stage of life. Each month, we offer engaging STEAM activities designed specifically for adults:
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Insightful presentations by local experts on fascinating STEAM topics
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FREE hands-on workshops that bring these concepts to life
These sessions provide a unique opportunity for adults to explore the intersection of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics in an accessible and enjoyable format. Whether you're a lifelong learner or just curious about STEAM, our adult program offers a stimulating environment to expand your horizons and unleash your creativity.
July
Danielle Bryan
Sound Bowl Meditation Workshop
Wednesday, July 9, 6 pm
Westminster Village, Community Center
1120 E Davis Drive, Terre Haute, IN 47802
Danielle Bryan is an International Holistic Health Professional with over a decade of experience hosting retreats, events & gatherings centered around tools to help others take care of their bodies from the inside out. She specializes in yoga, breathwork, sound healing, quantum physics, energetic wellness and the science of the heart. Her sessions are designed to leave you feeling physically relaxed and mentally inspired to take care of your body in a whole new way.
Come experience an hour session with a brief discussion, gentle stretch, breathwork practice, visualization meditation and crystal singing bowls.
Website: illuminationwellness.com
If you have a yoga mat (or towel) please bring it to the sound bowl meditation session.
Outside guests can park in the NE lot (see map) and can enter through the closest (2nd awning) located near the Community Center. You can zoom into the picture to get a better view to where to park and walk in. There are two green awnings. You will want the northern-most awning located on the map. The door will be propped open for you to enter by 5:45PM.
August
Dr. Jean Kristellar
The Science of Mindful Eating
Wednesday, August 13, 6 pm
Westminster Village, Community Center 1120 E Davis Drive, Terre Haute, IN 47802
Do you ever eat mindlessly? Well, we all do. So join us for this presentation and learn the science and be introduced to the many ways to be more mindful while enjoying your food more and eating less. She will be sharing the conceptual and research foundations of mindfulness more broadly, and mindful eating more specifically. This includes her own research, including projects funded by the National Institutes of Health both here and elsewhere, with colleagues at Duke University and the University of California-San Francisco. It will also include a brief experience with mindful eating.
August Workshop: Mindful Eating
Wednesday, August 13,Time to be determined
Westminster Village, Community Center 1120 E Davis Drive, Terre Haute, IN 47802
We all eat mindlessly at times, but this workshop will provide a brief overview of research related to learning to eat mindfully – and experiences related to doing so. These will include brief mindfulness practice, how to tune into your mind and body while you’re eating, and ways to eat less while enjoying your food more! It will provide a deeper experiential experience cultivating both your inner wisdom and outer wisdom related to eating in ways that you can bring to every snack – and every meal you eat!
September
James Kirtley
The Life of Stars, from Birth to Black Holes
Wednesday, September 17th, 6 P.M.
Room B, Vigo County Public Library
680 Poplar St., Terre Haute
Stars come in a fascinating variety of colors and sizes, and like us, each star goes through a lifecycle. In this talk, we will learn about the birth, life, and death of stars, and in the process discover where many of the elements in our bodies came from. We are truly the stuff of stars. We will cover:
• How stars are born, and why some potential stars never quite make it
• What provides the energy inside a star
• The different phases of a star's life
• How stars die, and what becomes of them after they "go out"
According to James Kirtley’s X profile, he is: “Dad, investor, physicist, database dude, fisherman, bridge enthusiast, and serious UK fan”. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in physics from the University of Kentucky and has had a long career in IT in both higher ed and the corporate world, including Director of Data and Software solutions at Rose-Hulman in Terre Haute.
September Workshop: Stargazing
Dr. Elizabeth Melton
Saturday, Sept. 13th, 8:15 P.M.
Oakley Observatory, Rose-Hulman
5500 Wabash Ave, Terre Haute
Join us and get up close and personal with a variety of telescopes and other observing equipment utilized at Rose-Hulman's Oakley Observatory. Weather permitting, we will be observing a variety of stars, galaxies, nebulas and more! The Oakley Observatory is located on the east side of Rose-Hulman (address 1484 N Hunt St., Terre Haute). Parking is available at the observatory or in the nearby gravel student parking lot. Please note that access to the observatory requires walking up two flights of open-air stairs.
Dr. Elizabeth Melton is an assistant professor and director of the Oakley Observatories at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Her research focuses on exoplanet detection and follow-up from the ground. In addition to automated exoplanet detection, Dr. Melton has utilized optical instruments at Cerro Tololo Observatory (in Chile), Siding Springs Observatory (in Australia) and Kitt Peak Observatory
October
Lori Woodcock
The Science of Joy
Wednesday, October 8th, 6 P.M.
Room FA 202, Fine Arts Building (FA)
Indiana State University
649 Chestnut Street, Terre Haute
Lori Woodcock will share her thesis research into the science of joy, the habits of bees, and sacred geometry as a conduit for manifesting joy in one’s own life. As a result of brain chemistry, trauma, or day-to-day difficulties, it can be hard for some people to experience the joy around them. There is a science to joy however, the brain is malleable, and the calm rhythms of sacred geometry are all around us. With the right tools and an open mind, anyone willing to look at the world a little closer can open their life to more joy.
Join the combination talk and workshop with Lori where you will learn how to apply the science of joy to your own life. How something as simple as a hug, a twirl, or a note left in a pocket can help you look at the world through a brighter lens. In doing so, you will open yourself to seeing sacred geometry in everyday life and begin to cultivate your own storehouse of joy.
Lori Woodcock is an artist and teacher who devoted 26 years to bringing art to the lives of her students and community as a secondary art teacher in central Indiana. A native of Terre Haute, she returned home in 2024 to share her classroom knowledge with future art educators as the Art Education Instructor at Indiana State University. She earned a BS in Art Education (1994) and an MA in Painting (2007) from Indiana State University and an MFA in Painting (2025) from Jacksonville University. Her research focuses on the science of joy, the habits of bees, and sacred geometry. She has exhibited recently at Honeywell Arts and Arts Illiana in Indiana, the Alexander Brest Gallery in Florida, the M.G. Nelson Family Gallery in Illinois, and the d’Art Center in Virginia. Her work will be on display locally at the Yang Family University Art Gallery August 19th through October 31st as part of the Swope Art Museum’s 81st Wabash Valley Exhibition.
October Workshop: Joy Journal
Lori Woodcock
Wednesday, October 8th, 6 P.M.
Room FA 202, Fine Arts Building (FA)
Indiana State University
649 Chestnut Street, Terre Haute
Attendees will create their own joy journal. They will begin by drawing the seed of life, a sacred geometric symbol, on the cover of their journal. Marker, colored pencil, or paint may be added to incorporate color and pattern into the symbol. The pages of the journal will be covered in dots. Participants may decide to connect the dots to create lines or circles on the first page. They will then be tasked with writing down one item that brings them joy each day for one week on the lines or circles. This will begin the journey of tracking their joy. Handouts for creating other sacred geometric shapes will be provided and participants may practice drawing these on other pages of the journal both during and after the workshop. The hope is that the dots on the pages create a sense of wonder for what can be created next while also encouraging a daily search for joy.
November
Dr. Tricia Pierce
The Science of Exercise: Healthy Aging
Wednesday, November 12th, 6 P.M.
Westminster Village, Community Center
1120 E Davis Drive, Terre Haute
This talk is designed for older adults who want to stay active, strong, and independent throughout the aging process. Learn about the latest scientific research on how exercise supports physical and mental well-being during aging. Dr. Pierce empowers older adults to take control of their health and enjoy a more vibrant, active lifestyle.
Dr. Tricia Pierce is an Associate Professor at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. Dr. Pierce is a Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist and has a background in cardiac and cancer rehabilitation. She has been an educator and community contributor to the Wabash Valley for over 10 years.
November Workshop: Healthy Aging through Activity
Dr. Tricia Peirce
Saturday, November 15th, Time TBD
Westminster Village, Community Center
1120 E Davis Drive, Terre Haute
This workshop will showcase how gentle movements can improve your overall health and well-being. We will use our neuromotor system to improve our balance, flexibility, and strength. Every time we use our bodies, physiological changes will occur. Learn how to use 5 minutes a day to improve your health outcomes.
December
Wyatt Lawson
Food To Dye For: The Science Behind Botanical Dyeing
Wednesday, December 10th, 6 P.M.
Vigo County Public Library
680 Poplar St., Terre Haute
In this STEAM Talk, artist and educator Wyatt Lawson will explore the art and science of botanical dyeing, an intersection of chemistry, ecology, and creative expression. Botanical dyeing uses natural materials—such as flowers, leaves, roots, and even kitchen scraps—to color fabric, paper, and more. During this lecture-style presentation, Wyatt will share insights into the history and chemistry of plant-based dyes, and demonstrate how natural tannins, acids, and metals influence the results.
Drawing from his own experiences in cyanotype printing and natural dyeing, Wyatt will highlight how scientific experimentation and artistic intuition come together in the studio. The talk will include real-world examples, visuals of finished work, and a live (low-mess) dyeing demonstration to showcase the transformation of plant into pigment. Whether you're a science enthusiast, an eco-conscious artist, or just curious about natural color-making, you'll come away with a deeper appreciation of the alchemy between nature and art.
Wyatt Lawson is a multidisciplinary artist and nonprofit leader based in Bloomington, Indiana. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Community Justice and Mediation Center (CJAM), where he works at the intersection of conflict resolution, education, and community building. Wyatt’s creative practice is rooted in painting but expands into alternative photography and botanical dyeing. Wyatt is especially drawn to the chemistry behind natural dyes and cyanotypes, including how elements like pH, light, and environment affect outcomes. His recent work explores how scientific processes, sustainability, and natural materials can be used to create meaningful connections between people, place, and art