Equipping researchers of today with communication tools to reach beyond academia
In collaboration, EU-LIFE and BRIC have developed a science communication training workshop, equipping researchers with tools to communicate their research to the world outside academia. A concept with potential to increase public awareness of science, affect policy makers, draw attention to overlooked research fields, and more. The idea is to communicate science through storytelling - a communication method used widely within popular culture to captivate, engage and inform a broader (non-scientific) audience.
Bridging the gap between academia and society
Learning the storytelling method to communicate science can empower the individual researcher as he/or she unlocks a powerful tool to explain complex scientific concepts in ways that everyone can understand – essentially allowing them to share their research with people outside their field and with the media – drawing attention to the importance of their research field or project.
On the societal level, this can potentially also be a contributing factor to demystifying science, making it more accessible to the public and contributing to a more scientifically literate society - supporting research and informed decision-making on science-related issues.
The idea behind
The idea of creating a science communication storytelling workshop was initially born and tested at BRIC by the local communication team in 2019. However, it was soon integrated into the Science Communication Working Group (SCWG) in the EU-LIFE alliance, where it was further developed and tested several times – at BRIC, FIMM, IMBB-FORTH and at the Summer School of EMERALD. Based on the workshops conducted, the storytelling method was adaptable by the participants.
“I felt confident and engaged in the concept of science communication through storytelling,” one participant says. “I found the workshop very useful, and I apply many things that I learned in my presentations,” another participant adds.
Further, some of the stories crafted in these workshops proved impactful, with some integrated into broader campaigns and featured in science magazines.
Want to be a storyteller?
To conclude the development of this storytelling workshop, the EU-LIFE SCWG made an article that was recently published in FEBS letters (Federation of European Biochemical Societies).
This new publication highlights key features of the training course built on the success of the workshops held in Crete, Denmark and Finland, describing some essential elements of how to apply this method to communicate science. It also showcases an example of how an abstract about science can be transformed into a story that resonates with the general public.
Read “Transforming science communication through storytelling” on FEBS letters
Research organizations interested in setting up a storytelling workshop can reach out to EU-LIFE to obtain training materials.