Forging links between science and literature: A heuristic approach

Abstract

This article offers a modular approach to the teaching of science and literature at advanced level and beyond. The article emphasizes the importance of developing independent study skills over a range of subject areas, with the intention of giving breadth and balance to a topic.

Six units of work are presented, covering aspects of scientific and literary thought, for tutors and students to follow. Each unit of work can be taught separately or as part of the overall course on aspects of scientific and literary thought.

Each unit of work takes a single topic, briefly sets the context, offers activities that students could read about, discuss and write essays on, followed by a select reading list, that directly supports the topic under consideration.

The course of study comes supplied with an introduction, aims and objectives and a final section on assessment.

The implications of such a teaching programme are essentially threefold. Firstly, a changing world requires a range of qualities from individuals. These include the ability to think, to act, to apply and to receive knowledge. Furthermore, the ability to pursue links between different forms of knowledge and to communicate effectively are becoming even more important. Secondly, developing and fostering opportunities for individuals to work independently and to work as a member of a team, is beneficial and relevant for both the ‘world of work’ and/or for research at university level. Thirdly, closer integration between science and literature is important for enhanced community understanding, at both local and on a broader global level. The sharing of ideas is ultimately the means whereby we all make progress. This is as much the case, within our own academic fields, as it is on a broader, holistic, world basis.