[From Tim Kircher]
Dear colleagues, this article expresses well our collaborative venture, which the QEP fosters. In my conversations with Goldie Byrd, Dean of A&T and Professor of Biology, she emphasized the critical collaboration as well. As I like to think of it, the liberal arts are the roots (and routes) for STEM. Regarding the QEP(s), this paragraph seems especially relevant:
A scientist trained in the liberal arts has another huge advantage: writing ability. The study of writing and analyses of texts equip science students to communicate their findings as professionals in the field. My students accompany me to conferences, where they do the talking. They write portions of articles for publications and are true co-authors by virtue of their contributions to both the experiments and the writing. Scientists are often unable to communicate effectively because, as Cornell University president David J. Skorton points out, “many of us never received the education in the humanities or social sciences that would allow us to explain to nonscientists what we do and why it is important.”
The article is here: Washington Post Article, by Loretta Jackson-Hayes