By Caitlin Antonios
Storytelling in the sciences isn’t always straightforward. Research and data make the most impact when they leave the lab and are communicated to the world. But how do you share the excitement of a discovery with someone who doesn’t have years of training in the same discipline?
With so many students at Scripps pursuing interdisciplinary studies, it’s no surprise that Assistant Professor of Biology Peter Chandrangsu’s Core III class on that very topic is popular. The goal of the course, he shares, is for students to learn the fundamentals of inclusive scientific communication and create a personalized communication toolkit.
Bridging the science and the humanities
When Sophia Blaschke ’27, a sophomore planning to double major in physics and art, initially enrolled in the class, she thought she’d be learning how to write research papers or contact people to conduct research. Instead, she partnered with classmates to investigate examples of effective science storytelling. Students connected with alums through Olive Grove, and worked with Director and Sally Preston Swan Librarian for the Ella Strong Denison Library Jennifer Martinez Wormser ’95 for their research.
Blaschke’s group settled on using a piece of art to tell their story—a Möbius strip. To make one, you take a flat strip, and instead of meeting the two ends to make a circle, you twist one of the ends before joining them together to create a half twist in the loop.
“The shape has a bunch of cool elements that we thought were symbolic of science at Scripps,” Blaschke says. “If you trace your finger on the outside of the strip, you’ll end up on the inside. It’s like the sciences and the humanities, which are seen as two opposite parts that don’t really connect—but at Scripps with interdisciplinary learning, they do eventually touch.”
Part of that interdisciplinary learning is Scripps’ Core Curriculum, which all students are required to take to fulfill their general education requirement in the humanities. Chandrangsu’s class is part of many Core III classes offered during the first semester of sophomore year, but each instructor offers their own unique take on the Core’s current theme, “Histories of the Present.”
“Stories are an incredibly powerful communication tool,” Chandrangsu says about creating the class. “They serve as a bridge between science and imagination, between what is known and what is to be learned. Stories help us express, share, and preserve knowledge.”
Enlightening external audiences through STEM storytelling
To take the students’ research projects outside the classroom, the class had a presentation outside the Nucleus, Scripps and Pitzer’s new science center, at the end of fall semester 2024. Some students also presented their work at this year’s Family Weekend.
“I really thought the meat and potatoes of doing research was the research,” Blaschke says. “But a huge aspect is how you communicate that story and what you want to say. I learned a lot about how to be a more effective communicator.”
Another student straddling both STEM and the humanities is Willa Baker ’27, who plans to major in chemistry and German. Chandrangsu’s class immediately stood out to her.
“It was a vital class, especially in today’s world,” Baker says. “It’s crucial to make science and data accessible to all those who are interested in it.”
Baker’s group created a timeline exploring when science at Scripps became more predominant, including important milestones from the College’s founding to when Scripps began offering STEM classes on campus instead of directing students to Pomona. For Baker, it was her first experience presenting research, and Chandrangsu’s examples helped prepare her for all the ways it can be shared.
“All students, faculty, and staff bring their own stories to the Scripps community,” Chandrangsu says. “Through the History of Science at Scripps project, I hoped students could apply their inclusive storytelling toolkit, learn more about the rich legacy of science at Scripps, connect with the supportive alum community, and think how they can weave all that they bring into the Scripps story.”