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Art and Science Join at Last LSU students are studying the science of creativity while using the most up-to-date technology that money can buy. Whether a student is interested in video gaming, virtual reality, 3-D animation, or any other creative technology field, the LSU Laboratory for Creative Arts and Technologies, or LCAT is ready to offer researchers the best equipment on the market.
The LSU Center for Applied Information Technology and Learning, or LSU CAPITAL is funding the laboratory that merges art and science. The funding for this creative facility, as well as the funding for all other LSU CAPITAL projects, is part of Governor Murphy J. “Mike” Foster’s statewide Information Technology Initiative. This initiative annually divides $25 million for the advancement of information technology in higher education among five Louisiana universities.
The creators of the LCAT will offer students a chance to work on specific interdisciplinary projects that would use the lab’s resources. “The LCAT is first and foremost a research laboratory where students and faculty from creative and technical fields work collaboratively,” said LCAT interim director Stephen David Beck. The LCAT has already been supporting the creative technology work of the Student Video Game Alliance. "Dr. Beck and his team have helped us a lot with our organization. We're excited about the new lab and all the possibilities," said Student Video Game Alliance president Andrew Horwitz. Written by Jennifer Hughes | LSU CAPITAL
| LSU Office of University Relations
Related Links: LSU Laboratory for Creative Arts
and Technologies |
The
LSU researchers involved in LCAT view the learning experience as
a quest, and they envision students experiencing hands-on discovery
in creative and scientific fields. This new creative technology
research group focuses on immersive environments, intelligent systems,
and rendering technologies. Students and faculty will be able to
utilize the most advanced digital technologies available to complement
their research.
The
creative juices are definitely flowing when it comes to planning
for LCAT. “It is extremely important to see the potential
of how art can relate to other disciplines,” said Susan Ryan,
an LSU art professor who is a member of the faculty steering committee
for LCAT. Members of the steering committee who have been collaborating
on the project include professors from various arts, humanities,
engineering, and science departments. 
The
committee has also sought advice from top industry and academic
leaders in the field of high-tech creativity. Representatives from
the faculty steering committee have met with executives in the film
and recording industry, as well as professors in digital media from
peer universities. Information technology experts at Warner Brothers,
Virgin Records, Dreamworks, the University of Southern California,
the University of California, Planet Grande Pictures, Marvster Media,
and Andre’ Entertainment consulted with LSU faculty on this
project. The LCAT faculty steering committee also visited with faculty
and staff at the MIT Media Lab to learn what has and has not worked
at this renowned facility in Boston. 
