MISSION AND MINISTRY | Faculty from the Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering and the LMU School of Film and Television started eating lunch together three years ago at the Hill on Tuesdays and Thursdays during convocation hour. After breaking bread and several lively conversations, they decided to collaborate.
“It was really cool because we were not in a meeting, we were just eating together, and this just came up naturally because we have these common interests, said José García Moreno, director of The Academy of Catholic Thought and Imagination and professor of animation. “Suddenly, we were talking about the future of education. We then started to discuss the pedagogy of animation and how we actually do need computer science, and how can we do better, and suddenly Ray Toal suggested we start cross listing some courses. That is how this started.”
In fall 2021, there will be a minor in Interactive, Gaming, and Immersive Media, informally called Iggy after St. Ignatius. The minor is an interdisciplinary alliance that reveals how technical and creative disciplines can greatly enrich each other. “The minor actually invokes two different sides of the brain: The right which is the technical, scientific part, with the artistic side,” said Moreno. “You know there shouldn’t be rigid boundaries, you’re an artist or you’re scientist, it is about creativity.” The minor combines existing courses to create a holistic experience encompassing programming, video games, animation, analysis, writing, knowledge representation, and worldbuilding.
Moreno believes that faith and technology go hand in hand. “We need to understand that science is sacramental and that there should be more attention to technology in terms of the evolution of spirituality and faith,” said Moreno. Students are invited to attend an hourlong discussion on April 4, 2021, at 2 p.m. that will offer insights from two of the program’s founders, Tom Klein, professor of animation, and Ray Toal, professor of computer science.
