During undergrad, most of my chemical engineering classes were composed of dry lectures and nearly impenetrable textbooks. However, one class I particularly liked was Fluid Dynamics, the study of the properties and flow of liquids and gases in a pipe, container, across a surface, etc. I remember one class assignment involved calculating how long it would take the center of a frozen hot dog (32 F) to reach 70 F when it was placed in a pot of boiling water at 210 F. Cutting edge stuff!
I also remember the lesson on fluid displacement. The Professor wrote this formula on the board:
m = ρV
This formula computes the mass (m) of the displaced fluid based on its density (ρ) and volume (V). Seemed simple enough. The professor briefly touched on Ancient Greek inventor, mathematician, and scientist Archimedes and how he discovered this formula when he got into the bathtub and noticed the new water level corresponded directly with how much of his body was submerged. Thus, he could calculate the mass of his submerged body.
(Side note: I never discovered any such novel ideas because I have spent my time creating amateur rap lyrics while bathing.)
Archimedes discovered buoyance. You can thank him during your next cruise to the Caribbean; his discovery is why these massive, steel ships float.
My textbook MIGHT have had 2-3 sentence on Archimedes and his bathtub experiences. Most of the real estate on the topic was dedicated to illustrating how the formula could be used with different sets of data; a purely quantitative approach. I spent time studying the examples because I needed to complete my homework and prepare for the test.
As I wrote this blog, I couldn’t remember the formula m = ρV but I did remember the short blurb on Archimedes and the bathtub story. Why? Because stories are easier to remember than abstract concepts. Good stories are relatable. We all probably have taken baths are some point in our lives. Good stories also inspire and help make sense of the world around us.
Looking back, I wished my professor shared more about Archimedes. Here is a list of some of his other accomplishments:
· Created “Archimedes’ Screw” (a device for raising water that is still used in crop irrigation and sewage treatment plants today).
· Designed cranes to drop rocks, claws to lift ships from the water, and machines to fire wooden missiles.
· Devised a system of mirrors that focused the sun’s light on enemy ships, setting the ships on fire.
· Approximated Pi.
A good story could be shared about any one of these of accomplishments and the related STEM concept would be more understandable. Students would get a Greek history lesson as a bonus. Plus everyone loves Pi!
Why is storytelling important? A story unites an idea, concept, or principal with an emotion. When a story is told the listener’s emotional energy is engaged. Robert McKee, a respected screenwriting lecturer shared with Harvard Business Review, “if you can harness imagination and the principles of a well-told story, then you get people rising to their feet amid thunderous applause instead of yawning and ignoring you.”
Teachers, supervisors, and mentors let’s strive to impart historical and personal stories along with STEM lessons. Students need to be inspired to tackle problems that have plagued humanity for centuries. These stories need to be well crafted and shared verbally. We can’t hope students read the textbook or a handout detailing the story. A story needs to be told with proper timing and passion. This is how STEM will become alive to the students. Everything depends on us learning how to become good storytellers.
Sources
Fryer, Brown. Storytelling That Moves People, Harvard Business Review, June 2003.