The Power of Storytelling in Science: Perspectives from Two Students and a Community Member

Storytelling plays a vital yet often underrecognized role in scientific research by connecting data with the people who make discovery possible. Through our experiences with The Last Gift Program, we reflect on how engaging with participants and their stories transformed our understanding of science, compassion, and responsibility. These experiences demonstrate how storytelling can foster empathy, strengthen scientific purpose, challenge stigma, and inspire the next generation of researchers to pursue science grounded in humanity. Scientific discovery may preserve samples and data, but storytelling helps preserve the people, lives, and acts of generosity behind them.