Science Storytelling: Why
“The vast majority of people are put off by the simplest math equation. They’re put off by chemicals, formulas — anything that sounds sciencey...But they are intuitively and instinctively drawn to human stories.”
The subject matter experts I interviewed aimed to inform their audiences about how science-related issues affect their communities and the world: Research organizations write stories about their scientists’ discoveries. Outdoor retailers share stories about how climate change is impacting the places where we hike, climb and camp. Journalists strive to raise public awareness of these issues so people have the information they need to make informed decisions.
They all use stories as a tool to draw readers in and keep them engaged. Their answers to “why tell stories about science” boil down to:
To make science more engaging and easier to understand
To pique interest and inform readers about science-related issues in their communities — from coal ash pollution Tennessee to how COVID-19 impacts people with HIV
To get people to care and inspire action around those science-related issues