Stories are a mechanism that human beings have evolved to help us package information about who we are, how we survive, what we care about, and spread those ideas through time and space.
- Liz Neely, “The Science Behind Storytelling”
Storytelling is a powerful tool that has been used for centuries. It isn’t exclusive to the liberal arts; narratives can be applied to science, too. Immersing an audience in a story allows them to shift how they think about certain topics, such as water quality or food insecurity. Stories are more relatable and engaging, which helps audiences understand and remember research more easily. They allow those listening or reading to participate, feel, experience, and learn more intensely than if they were reading data. At the Knowledge Exchange, we’re dedicated to connecting everyone to world-class research, and stories are just one great way we package that information!
Sofia, Madeline. "The Science Behind Storytelling." Audio blog post. Short Wave. NPR, 19