I have written several times on this site of the importance of literature and writing for all students, not just those that are going into Education, Journalism, or other fields with a focus on English. But a great article appeared over at Forbes yesterday, "Why Scientists Should Study Art and Literature," that students and teachers in all fields should check out. Science professor Chad Orzel has written a column explaining the benefits of a well-rounded background in the study of English, even for those who think their future in a STEM field has no connection to literature or composition.
Orzel indentifies three major components of English study that are valuable to those who work in the sciences: empathy, context, and communication. By more closely studying the humanities (and English specifically), scientists can further understand people, their place and function in this world, and how to convey information to disparate audiences. While some STEM fields have a "walled off" aspect to them, such as isolated researching in laboratories, we must remember, Orzel writes, "science is done by people, and we all bring our own history and experiences to the process of doing science. You’ll need to work with, for, and sometimes around these people, and understanding how they look at the world can be enormously helpful to this process." And studying English increases our awareness of that fact.
Keep up the fight for English studies, and take a moment to check out the article...
Orzel indentifies three major components of English study that are valuable to those who work in the sciences: empathy, context, and communication. By more closely studying the humanities (and English specifically), scientists can further understand people, their place and function in this world, and how to convey information to disparate audiences. While some STEM fields have a "walled off" aspect to them, such as isolated researching in laboratories, we must remember, Orzel writes, "science is done by people, and we all bring our own history and experiences to the process of doing science. You’ll need to work with, for, and sometimes around these people, and understanding how they look at the world can be enormously helpful to this process." And studying English increases our awareness of that fact.
Keep up the fight for English studies, and take a moment to check out the article...