Session Description: The scientific process is messy, fun, and full of plot twists. As ecologists and science communicators, we believe that the way we present our work should reflect the reality of this experience. We believe that the storytelling is a powerful tool that can more accurately reflect the honesty of our scientific work while fostering empathy and connection between the audience and presenter. We are often trained as scientists to “remove ourselves from the story”, but the human component is what makes presentations memorable and compelling. We encourage scientists to explore the idea of breaking from the IMRaD format to prioritize making human connections during presentations.
In this session, we will first discuss the research-based arguments for bringing storytelling into your scientific talks. We will then introduce elements of story structure such as characters, tension, and resolution and how they can be applied to a scientific context. The majority of the session will be used discovering and workshopping true stories and data stories that can be used in the talk you’re presenting at this ESA meeting. We welcome participants from all career levels and cultural backgrounds, and we extend a special welcome to young scientists and people of color.
