It’s often argued that studying the liberal arts will enrich the life of the mind. For STEM majors, it can also give them a practical advantage in their careers.
New Directions in Cryptography, that is arguably the most important paper in the history of cryptography. Written by two broadly educated computer scientists, Whitfield Diffie and Martin E. Hellman, the article had an impact that was due not primarily to its technical content, impressive though that was, but rather to the authors’ ability to articulate a vision for the future internet that can still be read today as a guide to some basic principles of cybersecurity.
Another example is the recent book Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy, by Cathy O’Neil, a Harvard math Ph.D. who deftly translates her expertise in mathematical modeling into a series of stories that sound the alarm about the use of mathematics to intimidate, mislead, and mistreat millions of people.
But what about rank-and-file scientists and engineers, who have more-modest attainments than Diffie and Hellman and write for a much smaller readership than O’Neil? For us as well, success in achieving our objectives often depends on the ability to tell a story.
For example, our journal articles will reach a wider audience if the introduction is an engaging narrative that proceeds from statement of the problem, explanation of its importance, and summary of prior work to an overview of the paper’s contributions and directions for future research. Grant applications will have a better chance of success if they convey one’s technical accomplishments in language that gives context, history and direction, and does not lose sight of the forest for the trees. And if we want to influence a decision on a scientific or technological controversy, either in our work or as a citizen writing an op-ed for the local newspaper, we must broaden our focus and write with a perspective that will make sense to diverse groups of people.
The common element in all of this is knowing how to tell a story. Contrary to popular misconceptions about science and technology, a good piece of technical work is not a disembodied sequence of formulas and calculations, but rather is part of a narrative that has a long plot line and a large cast of characters.
Story-telling is a fundamental part of being human, from the time we are little children. It is also a central part of many cultural traditions, as we see, for example, in Patricia Hill Collins’s writings about the experiences of African-American women.
How can a student learn to tell a story well? First and foremost, by reading great literature. Another way students can learn how to analyze content and trace the development of an idea is through the study of history. And finally, one of the most effective ways to acquire a broad perspective and an appreciation for the nuances of communication is through the study of foreign languages and literatures. (I double-majored in mathematics and Russian language and literature when I was an undergraduate.)
