Storytelling for Researchers (405)

25 September 2020

Dr Samer Angelone

There have been great scientists that dropped out of school, but there have been no great scientists that did not tell stories!

We seek to challenge, inspire and train scientists to use narrative techniques and strategies employed in film to produce persuasive presentations and publications. Borrowing communication strategies and techniques from filmmakers and applying them in science communication will help scientists for better communication of their research, and scientists are wise enough to do so!

I. In this workshop, researchers will learn storytelling techniques. This will help them to engage audience and increase uptake by incorporating narrative attributes into their teaching, divulgations and publications.

II. The desire of researchers to communicate elegantly with the general audience using storytelling, and the tireless search of filmmakers for good stories to tell, demand tight collaboration between researchers and filmmakers. Hence, the successful collaboration requires that researchers acquire the basic knowledge of film storytelling. This will allow them to translate their research into elegant and convincing cinematographic stories, thus enhancing the communication between them and filmmakers, and making it easier for the filmmaker to transform these stories into films.

Workshop content

Theory:

• Story and narrative, storytelling in science, documentary vs. fiction, documentary modes, and alternative narrative structures.

Practice:

• Participants will re-write the summaries of their already published (or in preparation) papers and presentations based on what they learn in the workshop.

• NOT MANDATORY (and not covered by the CUSO): Participants are giving the opportunity to attend the Global Science Film Festival (www.sciencefilm.ch) which will take place simultaneously in Bern and Zurich between 15 and 17 of November 2019. For participants who are willing to attend the film festival, all entrances are free. The Global Science Film Festival is a great opportunity for them to meet professional filmmakers and discuss with them storytelling technics that they can use in communicating their research.

Learning outcomes

After this course, participants are able to:
• Build persuasive communication of their research, for divulgation and publication
• Prepare a cinematographic stories and scripts about their research
• Review, summarise and interpret films.

Preparatory/Transfer Work

Participants have to prepare two stories and one abstract!

Please send the trainer, at least 2 weeks before the workshop, the following:
1. Three lines telling a story about one of your research topics
2. Three lines telling a story about your biography
3. The summary of one of your recent publications/posters/presentations
(The amount of time expected: 1 hour)

Université de Neuchâtel

Date: Friday 25th September 2020

Schedule: 9:15 to 17:15

Location: University of Neuchâtel

Trainer:

Dr Samer Angelone is a biologist and filmmaker. He teaches "Filmmaking for Scientists", "Storytelling Science", "Photography for Scientists", "Science Events Planning and Management" and "Filmmaking Marathon" at various Swiss and Germany universities and research institutes. He is the founder and director of the Global Science Film Festival (www.sciencefilm.ch) in Switzerland. Dr Angelone has directed several fiction and documentary films and has been in the jury of prestigious film festivals. He has developed scientific research on population genetics, diseases, forensics, wildlife conservation, social media, and human-elephant conflict. Dr Angelone holds a PhD in population genetics, and master's degrees in film studies and film direction.

For films: vimeo.com/user14452333
For scientific publications: www.researchgate.net/profile/Samer_Angelone

Participants are eligible for reimbursement of incurred travel expenses by train between the city of their university and the location of the workshop (half-fare card, 2nd class).

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