By Edna Fernandez-Figueroa

Continuing a collaboration stretching back to the 2008 Ocean Sciences Meeting in Orlando, these sessions brought the storytelling wisdom of Hollywood to aquatic scientists! Communication expert, author, and improv actor Brian Palermo leads three different sessions aimed at helping scientists from all career stages understand the value of communicating science through stories. Each session has a different focus, so attendees are encouraged to attend as many as possible, to get something different from each one. Follow the links below to learn more! These sessions are supported by a grant to Jonathan Sharp (University of Delaware) from the NSF Ocean Sciences Division.
Make Your Science Communication More Effective
Sunday, Feb 26, 10:00-13:00 or 14:00-17:00
Room 303B
Register here
Interdisciplinary Presentations Workshop
Tuesday Feb 28, 13:00-14:30
Room 302A/B
Science Videos that Engage
Tuesday Feb 28, 18:30-21:30
Room 301B
Science Communication Resources
Check out the links below to learn more about ASLOโs ongoing efforts to support members working to foster new collaborations and bring their science to a larger audience.
Videos
- Improv exercises from Expert Village:ย โFirst Letter, Last Letterโย andย โYes, And?โย (90 seconds each)
- Randy Olsonโs TED talk about the โAnd, But, Thereforeโ storytelling templateย (10 minutes)
- Randy Olsonโs webinar about the Story Circles Narrative Training programย (1 hour)
- โWhy arenโt they listening?โ panel discussion at OSM 2014ย (1 hour)
- โOvercoming the cultural gap between scientists and the publicโ panel discussion at OSM 2012ย (2 hours)
Articles
- ASLO Bulletin: โTranslating Science into Storiesโ
- ASLO Bulletin: โMore than workshops: Science communication training at ASLOโ
- ASLO Bulletin: โImprov training for scientistsโ by Brian Palermo
- Scientia: โCommunicating Science: Bridging the Great Divideโ by Jonathan Sharp
Books
- Donโt Be Such a Scientist: Talking Substance in an Age of Styleย (2009) by Olson (Oceanography review)
- Escape from the Ivory Tower: A Guide to Making Your Science Matterย (2011) by Baron (Oceanography review)
- Connection: Hollywood Storytelling Meets Critical Thinkingย (2013) by Olson, Barton, and Palermo (ASLO Bulletin review)
- Houston, We Have a Narrative: Why Science Needs Storyย (2015) by Olson (ASLO Bulletin review)