What started as an attempt to keep third-year statistics students engaged during the pandemic, has resulted in a short story anthology capturing ideas and concepts taught in a time series analysis class through creative writing.

Fiction and Fable: Tales of Time-Series is a collection of short stories written by undergraduate students from the University of Pretoria’s Department of Statistics, inspired by an optional assignment by Associate Professor Johan Ferreira.

“To be honest, I didn't think much of it at the time. Several students submitted some stories, and the creativity was so powerful that this anthology – after several rounds of editing, revision, and patience – has now been published together with ESI PRESS,” Prof Ferreira said.

The book was edited by Prof Ferreria and Dr Seite Makgai, also from the Department of Statistics, and was formally launched recently at the UP Hatfield campus.

“This volume serves as an educational tool, bringing together fictional narratives written by students, for students, within the scientific framework of time-series at tertiary level. A common thread visible in this volume is a sheer human desire for victory, overcoming obstacles and transformation,” Prof Ferreria explained.

Prof. Delia North, former Dean of Science at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and a stalwart in statistics education in South Africa, delivered opening remarks at the book launch, saying: “This book comes at the precise moment in time when academic statisticians are challenged to think of new and novel ways to advocate for their discipline. I have no knowledge of any other similar statistics story book being written – the editors should really be considered true visionaries in the field of statistics education.”

When presenting the idea of the assignment at the book launch Prof Ferreira said: “What stands out for me is how something conventionally analytical can be broken down into consumable pieces of creativity.”

“Most of us started off learning mathematics in this way; ‘If Seite has five pumpkins, and gives Johan three, how many pumpkins does she have left?’ Word sums are the start of anyone's first exposure to mathematics. Why not stick with it even longer? Being able to view fundamental time series concepts through students' different creative lenses, is immensely interesting.”

Stories such as The Shepherd and the Wolf or The Tale of the ARMA Warriors take readers back to fond memories and moments of comfort that fables and fairytales hold for us all. The exceptional illustrations by Michelle Pinto add to the magic of these stories, transporting the reader on a journey to meet characters such as Archibald Rubenstein (AR for short), Princess ARMA (1,1), Professor Invertible and Mr Forecast.

Dylan Cuyler, who authored The ARIMA, said: “I've always loved the fantasy genre. When I thought about the different processes: AR, MA and ARIMA, I was inspired to write a fight scene using these concepts as personified fictional characters.”

He added that integrating maths into creative writing gave him the opportunity to learn more about time-series mathematical concepts because he had to research them.

Tiffany Harzon, who wrote The Wolf and the Three Kids short story, was inspired by one of her favourite childhood stories, the Brothers Grimm’s, The Wolf and the Seven Young Goats. She rewrote the story to incorporate the concepts from time-series analyses.

“In the process of writing the story, I had to revise and improve my understanding of the work which helped me form a more in-depth understanding of the coursework in an enjoyable way,” she said.

This book not only serves as an inspiration for those in the sciences to explore their creative side but also serves as a reminder that even the most complicated concepts need not be feared. The blend of imagination and analytical thinking provides readers with the opportunity to explore an enchanting world where mathematical models meet storytelling.

The students’ contributions, explored through fictional narratives, promote storytelling as an effective teaching and learning tool within analytical sciences. In addition to stimulating peer learning, the anthology offers an alternative and less stressful approach to teaching and learning.

The Fiction and Fable: Tales of Time-Series is available for free download here. Visit the ESI Press website on https://esipress.up.ac.za/ for more information.