The wondrous connection between the study of humanities and a career in science

Andrew Curran has believed for a long time that the study of humanities can help a person branch out to a lot of different fields. One of these fields is in science and research.

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 It’s a lamentable fact how many people perceive humanities as a waste of time and impractical. The truth, however, is that humanities is anything but impractical, including for those people looking to start a career in science.

On that note, here are a number of facts that connect humanities to a science career.

Knowledge of the importance of science in human history

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People who have studied humanities know just how important science has been to the progress of humanity as a whole. Humanities subjects teach people about the development of countless scientific discoveries in various fields throughout the ages. History and philosophy, in particular, unveil how science had to break free from reigning superstition.

Preservation of scientific techniques

While the knowledge of science may become outdated over time, Andrew Curran mentions that experience in the humanities help a person adapt to changes in one’s career quite easily. He has noticed how students who have gone through courses in humanities are more efficient when it comes to independent learning and reflection, both of which are indispensable qualities of any professional in the field of science.

Andrew Curran is the William Armstrong Professor of the Humanities and Professor of French at Wesleyan University. From 2009 to 2013, he was the Dean of Arts and Humanities. For similar reads, subscribe to this blog.