Every scientist is a storyteller. And even though most know this to be true, they struggle with it.
They are brilliant at conducting research. Within their projects, experiments and data points, they see the connections. It all seems logical to them since they are so deep into the topic.
Yet they find it difficult to communicate their findings in a way that others can understand. Those unfamiliar with the field often have difficulties following their lines of thought.
Fitting science and stories together – via communication
This is not only because the audience might lack background knowledge. Often, and even more confusingly, the researcher presents the information in an illogical and disorganised manner. Thus, they often lose their audience and the chance to make an impact with their research.
One way to make an outreach project successful is by using stories to convey scientific information. I have edited many science articles and given and followed several presentations. In every case, an engaging story saved the science communication project.
Stories help create flow as they present facts in a logical way. This will help your audience both connect with and learn from your research.
You can use stories for any of your outreach projects: from the title of your publication or grant application, its abstract and main text to social media posts, talks at conferences and chats outside your lab. A logical and engaging story helps everyone grasp your science.
But why is that? Why do people learn better when they hear or read stories? It comes down to how the brain—the best storyteller of all—processes information.
Why stories are important for our wellbeing
Your brain is a fascinating organ. It helps you calculate prices in the supermarket, orient yourself in your hometown and feel for your friends. For any of these processes, you need one superpower of your brain: the ability to make logical connections between cause and effect. An automatic activity; it helped your ancestors survive in the wild, just as now, it helps you in your daily life.
This is because your brain is locked up inside your body without direct contact with the outside world while having the task of making important decisions for your wellbeing. That’s why it relies on your senses giving constant information on environmental stimuli by hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting and feeling. The brain is also constantly measuring your body and energy levels while keeping an eye out for emotions that arise in you at every moment.
Something happens, triggering you to feel a certain way and causing your brain to make a decision, causing you to react in a particular way. This reaction triggers another emotion, another decision and another reaction, etc.
When you think about it, these decisions based on specific situations are logically connected events, hence stories. And your brain tells you these stories at all times and about any situation to help you make sense of the world and of what is happening around you.
Storytelling as an essential tool for science communication
Because of the underlying nature of stories, they have been around throughout humanity. Stories were the first things our ancestors told each other around campfires. They are the first things 2- or 3-year-olds tell themselves to understand the world around them. Parents tell their children fairy tales to teach them about the world, history and morals. With stories, we comprehend bigger concepts by making logical sense of them.
Since your brain prefers logic, you also understand facts and concepts better when they are connected as stories. Research actually showed that chances are higher that people remember scientific concepts when presented as stories. So, if you want someone not only to understand but also remember an important fact, it’s effective to pack it into a logical and comprehensive story. This is why the storytelling approach is such a valuable tool for science communication.
Whether you share your experimental findings in a publication in a scientific journal, break them down in a social media post or introduce your research project at a scientific conference. Even when talking to your neighbours, friends or family about your research, a logical and comprehensive story will help them connect with you and get your science. And with this, your research will make a true impact.
How to tell a good science story?
With the resources in our storytelling pillar, you’ll learn how to create engaging stories around your research topic and improve your science communication skills. You can choose to focus on any of the four pillars of storytelling: emotions, the hero’s journey, active language or the flow of your story. Or book our Storytelling in Science Communication Workshop to receive hands-on tips and tricks to create an interesting and understandable story your audience can follow, learn from and remember. What science story will you tell about your research?
