Scientists should experiment with creative ways of communicating their work to encourage action to protect the natural world, researchers say.
Scientists mainly publish their works in academic journals. The writing is expected to be technical, objective and calm, so it will not appeal to non-experts.
read: “We are storytelling apes.”
Researchers at the University of Exeter claim that science has been “translated into stories,” benefiting both science and the wider society. They propose ways in which scientists can tell powerful, passionate stories without compromising the objectivity of science.
Ecosystem
Professor Karen Anderson, Environmental and Sustainability Research Institute “Because environmental scientists are ourselves, we feel helpless by frustration, loss, fear, and sometimes lack of action to protect the planet.”
“However, researchers are expected to be rational rather than emotional, fearing being considered objective and reliable. This prevents scientists from using knowledge, passion and creative skills to fully communicate their work.”
Dr. Katherine Criton stated that the current methods of academic writing emerged in the 17th and 18th centuries, with “gentlemen’s scientists” writing to each other. “There is clearly a place in that form of writing.
However, we do not only discuss academic interests about the technical aspects of science. Everyone should be interested in the climate and biodiversity crisis. We are talking about our home, so the subject matter is too important to limit it to academic journals. ”
Peatlands expert Professor Angela Gallego-Sala added:
Motivation
“In almost all communications in our work, scientists remain “masks.” This is a calm source of data and analysis.
“In fact, as scientists, we all have stories that tell us about ourselves, the people we work with, where we work, and the places we work. And these stories are very important.”
Researchers have proposed ways to communicate environmental science that appeals to humans, or “storytelling chimpanzees,” as author Terry Pratchett explained.
These methods include adopting the “art of storytelling” and include platforms published with traditional science writing.
They also argue that scientists should share hidden aspects of their work. It’s how things go behind the scenes, like natural documentaries such as “Into Blue” at the end of each episode of Blue Planet II.
And scientists are encouraging them to try new ways to “provide science into normal human life.” For example, it encourages author biographies beyond the de facto resume, allowing authors to share personal stories, motivations and connections with the subject.
story
Dr. Crichton said: “The existing methods of communication are not working. The destruction of the climate and nature continues. We need to try something different.
“Humans are inspired by stories. By telling a better story, scientists can help inspire meaningful actions to protect themselves by protecting our environment and our planets.”
Professor Anderson concluded: how This can be done.
“Our work is trying to showcase the various ways scientists can experiment with more creative ways of communicating. I understand that it may feel strange to do this, but other scientists would like to give this a try.
“This is the beginning of a different type of experiment. It’s a story experiment.”
Papers published in the journal People and nature“We are storytelling apes. We are experimenting with new scientific stories in an era of climate and biodiversity collapse.”
This author
Brendan Montague is the editor of Ecologist. This article is based on a press release from the University of Exeter.
