Arts + Science = New Curriculum?

I've been reading a lot lately about the union of science, engineering and technology with the humanities and social sciences.

Princeton announced a $25 million gift from Dennis J. Keller and his wife, Constance Templeton Keller, "to strengthen links between engineering and the liberal arts"
http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S20/75/72A00/ .

Columbia University 's School of Engineering and Applied Science headlines their page "Engineering - The Newest Liberal Art," http://www.engineering.columbia.edu/pages/academics/undergraduate_studies/index.html.

Today's New York Times Science Section has a lead story "Curriculum Designed to Unite Art and Science," http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/27/science/27angi.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss.

And a few examples in IEEE Xplore:

Engineers as Problem-Solving Leaders: Embracing the Humanities, Jablokow, K.W., IEEE Technology and Soceity Magazine/Winter 2007

An Approach to Undergraduate Engineering Education in the 21st Century , Kastenberg, W.E.; Hauser-Kastenberg, G.H.; Norris, D36th Annual Frontiers in Education Conference, Oct. 2006

Shaping the Future of American University Education: conceiving engineering as a liberal art, Barke, R.; O'Neil Lane, E.; Knoespel, K., 2001 Proceedings, International Symposium on Technology and Society



My background is English, business and information science: among the 1.8+ million articles in IEEE Xplore are at least a few I don't understand (written with a smile). But whenever I need perspective on engineering and politics, or management, or economics, even philosopy, sociology, and some pretty arcane arts, I'm rarely disappointed. Try using IEEE Xplore in ways you don't expect. I'd love to know what you find -- and how you're able to use it.