Storytelling and science needn’t be mutually exclusive: not all stories start with “once upon a time”, you’ll be pleased to hear, and not all stories are fairy tales, either! In fact, there is a growing body of research that shows that the use of storytelling techniques in sharing science is effective both for outreach projects and even for getting more citations on your papers!

With that in mind, we invite you to join us for our two-part storytelling workshop where we’ll clarify what storytelling is, why it’s so powerful, and how to use tried and trusted storytelling structures to tell the story of your science, why it matters, and why other people should care about your work.

We’ll cover:

• Why science needs story
• Why stories work (backed by research!)
• The difference between narratives and stories
• Powerful story structures: what they are and when to use them
• How to create a simple story outline
• How to put your audience at the center of your story
• How to craft a powerful story
• How to use your story for different channels and in different situations – presentations, blog posts, elevator pitches, and more.

By the end of the two sessions, you will know all there is to know (almost!) about using stories to share or illustrate your science.

This is a practical, hands-on workshop, so expect to hear, tell, and create story outlines as we go. You’ll be given the chance to put your new-found skills to work between sessions, and you’ll receive feedback from your peers about what works, what doesn’t, and what might make your story even stronger.

You’ll also receive:

Digital templates, handouts and reminders, a future reading list, and useful sources and references for material used in the workshop.

Workshop details:

Start time: 9am CEST / 8am BST [see all timezones]

Length: 6 hours over 2x3 hour sessions, including breaks

Participants: this workshop requires a minimum of 2 participants to run