with a political climate that seems to reject the validity of science, the knee-jerk reaction is to become overly protective of science in its complicated base level. the scientific community worries that if science is diluted at all, it will lose its factual basis and be used as “alternative facts.”

we must be wary of science being used in a misguided or false manner, but we cannot abandon the idea of communicating accurate science. the united states needs a public that better understands the truths of science, therefore science must be presented in a manner that is more digestible while maintaining its validity.

that’s what i’m looking for here: scientific sources that maintain the validity of information while framing it as an interesting — and enjoyable — story. the goal right now shouldn’t be for scientists and those who support them to lock themselves into scientific bomb shelters to protect science from the scary world outside. instead, the goal should be to make real science more accessible and enjoyable, so we can change the narrative that surrounds it. now that i’ve finished my little spiel, let’s get into what i’m actually looking for in these science stories:

science

the whole point here is to increase the general public’s understanding of science. therefore, the first thing i am looking for in a science story is an accurate description of the science. i don’t want stories that simply state the findings of a scientific study, then move on without explaining more. the story must involve how the science came to be and what its potential is in the real world. who made this discovery? how did they make it? why is it important? what is it used for? what is the potential for application in the future?

above all else, these stories must maintain the validity of the original science. if the science is augmented or distorted to fit the narrative of the story, then it completely misses the point and risks being dismissed as “fake news.” if at all possible, the original scientists doing the research should be writing the piece or at least quoted in it, but if not, the story should include a credible scientist or professional in the field the science involves.  this way we can make sure the science is being presented the way it should be. we want to better inform the public on accurate science, not continue the spread of misinformation or partial truths.

story

there are key elements to a story that i am looking for and hoping to find. i understand it is ridiculous to hold these science stories to the same standards as “normal” stories, especially fictional stories. however, i do believe that most of these elements can be found in the origin and use of the science and can easily be incorporated into a science story in order to pique and keep the interest of the reader. the key elements i am looking for are:

• character development: give us someone or something to root for, care about, or relate to. 
• setting: explain the location and time of the science to help us visualize what we are learning about.
• hook: an introduction to the science or story that grabs the reader/viewer/listener’s attention, and makes them want to read or hear the whole thing.
• conflict/challenges: no science occurs without some sort of problem or resistance. tell us about the problem that had to be overcome.
• resolution: tell us how the challenges were overcome and what has come from it. if they have yet to become resolved, then explain why as well as how they might be able to in the future.
• climax: a moment in the story where a significant event involving the science occurs. something that helps define/shape the science. examples could include the actual scientific breakthrough, a case study of the science being applied, or the passing of legislation involving the science.

look, these stories don’t have to be pulitzer prize-worthy masterpieces that perfectly blend the intricacies of science and the allure of story. that would be nice, but it’s not necessary. all i’m looking for are examples of important science being told as a story that is accurate, understandable, and interesting.

i will be focusing my blog on environmental science as that is what i am interested in and most knowledgeable about. however, i hope the lessons i learn from this can be used to communicate any type of science in a more interesting way. 

my next post will be looking at an actual science story, instead of just talking about it.

until next time!

—michael

the problem is that science is usually not told as a story. it’s reported plainly as facts. to be clear, i’m not talking about scientific literature designed for further scientific or academic use. in those cases, thorough explanation and sticking to the facts is essential. i’m talking about science that is meant for the general public, to help explain topics of interest or concern to society.

look, i love science, especially environmental science, but most of the time when i find an article, news story, or some other source of information on science, it’s just dull. i have to force myself to get through the whole thing, then i barely remember any of it.

just the other day i went to a presentation on renewable energy. the event was open to the public, and the purpose was to inform on a particular organization’s findings on the state of renewable energy. the hour-long presentation was just a simplified regurgitation of their data and graphs. i could barely stay awake. i think they had some great information, but i just wish they had presented it in an engaging and fascinating way.

i believe there is a way to properly communicate environmental science and still tell a memorable story. that is what i am going trying to find. that is the point of this blog.

now you may be asking yourself, “self, what makes michael qualified to discuss environmental science?” great question. i knew you were smart. am i an expert? no, but i do have a background in both political science and environmental science. i am a graduate student in the environmental resource policy program at george washington university. i graduated in 2014 from colorado state university with a b.a. in political science and a minor in global environmental sustainability. after graduating, i worked for two years at csu’s school of global environmental sustainability.

through my studies and work, i have come to realize that there are significant communication gaps between the scientific community, the policy makers, and the public that are holding back the implementation of environmental sustainability practices on a widespread level.

a 2015 study from the pew research center showed that 87% of all scientists from the american association for the advancement of science believe climate change is mostly due to human activity compared to only 50% of u.s. adults who believe the same.

among specifically climate scientists, the gap is even larger, with 97% saying climate change is human-caused. either people no longer believe in science, or there is a serious gap in science communication. personally, i refuse to believe the former.

ultimately, i want to help bridge the gap between science, policy and the public. i believe the first step in doing so is finding a way to get the information to the public in a way they will enjoy and remember.

also, and most importantly, i love a good story. i’ve always been a fan of movies or books with vivid characters who take you on a journey. a story that really makes you care, that gives you a vested interest in the outcome. the quality of the writing or dialogue is important, but what catches my attention the most is a well-developed storyline. if the story catches my attention, that’s what makes me unable to put a book down or gives me sweaty palms when the plot thickens. that is what i’m looking for (minus the sweaty palms) when learning about science.

i don’t want to be unrealistic here. i know i’m not going to find the same level of storytelling in environmental science. communication of science is restrained by these things called facts. you can’t compromise the science just to enhance the storyline. but you can find a way to give your science a story. you can find a way to make the audience care. give me a reason to care. give me a reason to remember and want to share the information.

through this blog, i’m looking to find examples of environmental science being told as an interesting story. along the way, i hope to identify some common qualities that the best stories share, and highlight some successful environmental science communicators. i want you to come along with me on this journey. i want this to be an interactive experience where you can share your (respectful) opinions and suggestions with me. in my next post, i will get into further detail on what i will be looking for in these environmental science stories. 

until next time!

— michael