Art and Science: Promoting Empathy Through Film

This paper introduces a cross-disciplinary collaboration that has brought together the disciplines of film (art) and midwifery (art and science) in the utilization of creative documentary to evaluate new learning opportunities and reflective practice for student midwives. The case study film, The Golden Window, (filmed in a Neonatal, Intensive Care Unit [NICU] over 72 hours), was screened to a group of second year midwifery students in the Cambridge Arts Picturehouse, Cambridge, UK prior to their placements in NICU. The students recorded their thoughts and impressions of the film. Their responses are summarised and reflected upon within this paper with the underlying intent to examine whether this innovative interaction between art and science can provide an appropriate pedagogic framework for effective learning through creative and artistic means