Storytelling for Science Communication
What you'll learn
- Classical principles of story-telling
- What makes great science story
- Finding the story in any area of research
- Using language appropriately
- Adapting to different audiences
Requirements
- A good grasp of the english language
Description
We all love a good story- whether it’s the latest bestselling fiction book or a cheesy soap. And science is full of stories- stories of discovery, of persistence, of hope. Finding these stories can help take your public engagement to the next level, whatever medium you use to communicate.
By the end of the session, participants will:
- think of their work as a story to be told, rather than a collection of facts
- know what makes a story engaging, and how to use this in their own public engagement
- consider the audience when structuring their story
- have developed their science story, and adapted it to a range of audiences
Whether at a conference, a science festival or in the pub, all scientists need to be able to talk about their work in an engaging and understandable way. This practical, hands-on session will help scientists develop their communication skills, so they are confident talking to diverse audiences in a range of environments.
By the end of the session, participants will:
- understand what makes someone an engaging speaker
- be confident judging whether props, slides etc are appropriate, and using them thoughtfully
- have developed a range of ways to include their audience in a presentation, to make it a two-way interaction
- be able to handle some common “difficult” situations and audience interactions
- take away a short (2 min) presentation they have developed and practiced during the session
Who this course is for:
- Research scientists
- Undergraduate students
- PhD Students
Instructor
- 4.4 Instructor Rating
- 37 Reviews
- 152 Students
- 1 Course
A science writer and presenter with expertise in psychology & neuroscience, Ginny has a talent for making the complex comprehensible and a passion for brain science. She teaches at the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Continuing Education, is a regular blogger and video presenter for the Cosmic Shambles Network and hosts the British Psychological Society’s Psych Crunch Podcast. She has written 4 books for DK publishing, and her latest book for adults; ‘Overloaded; How every aspect of your life is Influenced by your Brain Chemicals’ is now out. She founded Braintastic! Science, which produces spectacular science shows and resources to help young people understand and get the best out of their brains. She also shares her skills as a science communication trainer and consultant, providing scientists and organizations with techniques to grab their audiences attention, and keep it.