Scientists face many decisions during their research. Which ideas to pursue, which methods to use, what to prioritize to meet the deadline? At some point, they are left with a large amount of unstructured information – the results of studies, literature reviews, experiments, and so on – only a fraction of which is shared with the scientific community. What fraction? Making the right decisions is key to how a scientist’s work is received. But it is easy to get caught up in the details.

Storytelling techniques help guide the process of both filtering information down to the most relevant by focusing on the key ideas/insights and organizing them into a coherent structure that does not distract from the key information, but highlights its significance. The story structure can also be used to anticipate and address potential criticisms from reviewers, funding agencies, or other members of the scientific community, thereby increasing the researchers’ chances of publication and recognition.

Learning Objectives

In this workshop, participants will learn to organize their ideas and research findings using storytelling techniques to create a clear and coherent overview (storyline) of their research and its significance. They will be able to answer the question “What is the story behind your research?” both for a single research project and for multiple projects (e.g. dissertations), and use their storyline as a reference for developing communications and future research projects.

Execution

The workshop will alternate between slides and hands-on exercises, with time for questions and discussion. Participants will take a look at their research from a different perspective, brainstorm new ideas, and organize their insights using a storyboard. They will have the opportunity to review each other’s work and receive feedback on the clarity of their storyline.