Las Vegas, As a scholar of science communication, I have always supported vaccination and trusted medical experts, and I still do. However, as a new mom, I have been facing new-to-me emotions and concerns as I weigh decisions about my son's health.
Vaccines are incredibly effective and have minimal risks of side effects. But I began to see why some parents might be hesitant given the avalanche of content, especially online, about the potential risks of vaccines.
Part of what makes vaccine misinformation persuasive is the use of storytelling. Vaccine advocates share powerful personal experiences about childhood illnesses or alleged vaccine side effects. However, it is rare for scientists to use the same narrative strategies to counter misinformation. In my book “Science vs. Story: Narrative Strategies for Science Communicators,” I explore how to use stories to talk convincingly about controversial scientific topics, including vaccination. To me, stories contain character, action, sequence, scope, a narrator, and content to varying degrees. By this definition, a story could be a book, a news article, a social media post, or even a conversation with a friend.
While researching my book, I discovered that stories about science tend to be broad and abstract. On the other hand, skeptical science stories tend to be specific and concrete. Borrowing some of the strategies of skeptical science stories, I argue that evidence-backed science stories can better compete with misinformation.
To make science stories more concrete and engaging, it's important to put people in the story, explain science as a process, and include what matters to them. Put people in the story.
Scientific stories often lack characters, at least human ones. An easy way to create better stories is to include scientists who make discoveries or perform experiments as characters.
Characters can also be people affected by a scientific topic or interested in learning more about it. For example, stories about climate change can include examples of people feeling the effects of more extreme weather events, such as the devastating impacts of the California wildfires on local communities. Characters can also be narrators sharing their personal experiences. . For example, I began this article with a brief discussion of my personal vaccine decisions. He was not a hidden or voiceless narrator, but rather someone who shared an experience that I hope others can relate to.
Explain science as a process.
People often think that science is objective and unbiased. But science is actually a human practice that constantly involves decisions, errors and biases. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, the medical advice was not to wear a mask. Initially, scientists thought masks did not prevent transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. However, after additional research, medical advice changed to support the use of masks, providing the public with the most up-to-date and accurate knowledge.
If you explain science as a process, you can guide people through the sequence of how science is done and why researchers reach certain conclusions. Science communicators can emphasize how science is conducted and why people should trust the scientific process to provide the most accurate conclusions possible given the information available.
Include what people care aboutScientific issues are important, but they may not always be the public's most pressing concerns. In April 2024, Gallup found that "environmental quality" was one of the lowest-ranked priorities among people in the U.S. Of those surveyed, 37% said they cared about it a lot. More immediate issues, such as inflation (55%), crime and violence (53%), the economy (52%), and hunger and homelessness (52%) ranked much higher.
Stories about the environment could be intertwined with higher priority topics to emphasize why the content is important. For example, stories can include information about how climate change mitigation can go hand-in-hand with improving the economy and creating jobs.
Telling the Stories of ScienceScientists, of course, can be science communicators, but everyone can tell science stories. When we share health information online or talk to friends and family about the weather, we contribute to the information that circulates about scientific topics.
My son's pediatrician was a science communicator when she explained the vaccine schedule and ways to keep my son comfortable after receiving vaccines. I was a science communicator when I spoke to others about my decisions to fully vaccinate my son according to the recommended schedule and how he is now a healthy, happy 9-month-old.
When communicating scientific topics, remember to borrow elements from stories to strengthen your message. Think about all the features of a story (character, action, sequence, scope, narrator, and content) and how you might incorporate them into your theme. Everyone can find opportunities to strengthen their science communication, whether in their work or in their everyday interactions with friends and family. (The conversation) AMS
Vaccines are incredibly effective and have minimal risks of side effects. But I began to see why some parents might be hesitant given the avalanche of content, especially online, about the potential risks of vaccines.
Part of what makes vaccine misinformation persuasive is the use of storytelling. Vaccine advocates share powerful personal experiences about childhood illnesses or alleged vaccine side effects. However, it is rare for scientists to use the same narrative strategies to counter misinformation. In my book “Science vs. Story: Narrative Strategies for Science Communicators,” I explore how to use stories to talk convincingly about controversial scientific topics, including vaccination. To me, stories contain character, action, sequence, scope, a narrator, and content to varying degrees. By this definition, a story could be a book, a news article, a social media post, or even a conversation with a friend.
While researching my book, I discovered that stories about science tend to be broad and abstract. On the other hand, skeptical science stories tend to be specific and concrete. Borrowing some of the strategies of skeptical science stories, I argue that evidence-backed science stories can better compete with misinformation.
To make science stories more concrete and engaging, it's important to put people in the story, explain science as a process, and include what matters to them. Put people in the story.
Scientific stories often lack characters, at least human ones. An easy way to create better stories is to include scientists who make discoveries or perform experiments as characters.
Characters can also be people affected by a scientific topic or interested in learning more about it. For example, stories about climate change can include examples of people feeling the effects of more extreme weather events, such as the devastating impacts of the California wildfires on local communities. Characters can also be narrators sharing their personal experiences. . For example, I began this article with a brief discussion of my personal vaccine decisions. He was not a hidden or voiceless narrator, but rather someone who shared an experience that I hope others can relate to.
Explain science as a process.
People often think that science is objective and unbiased. But science is actually a human practice that constantly involves decisions, errors and biases. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, the medical advice was not to wear a mask. Initially, scientists thought masks did not prevent transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. However, after additional research, medical advice changed to support the use of masks, providing the public with the most up-to-date and accurate knowledge.
If you explain science as a process, you can guide people through the sequence of how science is done and why researchers reach certain conclusions. Science communicators can emphasize how science is conducted and why people should trust the scientific process to provide the most accurate conclusions possible given the information available.
Include what people care aboutScientific issues are important, but they may not always be the public's most pressing concerns. In April 2024, Gallup found that "environmental quality" was one of the lowest-ranked priorities among people in the U.S. Of those surveyed, 37% said they cared about it a lot. More immediate issues, such as inflation (55%), crime and violence (53%), the economy (52%), and hunger and homelessness (52%) ranked much higher.
Stories about the environment could be intertwined with higher priority topics to emphasize why the content is important. For example, stories can include information about how climate change mitigation can go hand-in-hand with improving the economy and creating jobs.
Telling the Stories of ScienceScientists, of course, can be science communicators, but everyone can tell science stories. When we share health information online or talk to friends and family about the weather, we contribute to the information that circulates about scientific topics.
My son's pediatrician was a science communicator when she explained the vaccine schedule and ways to keep my son comfortable after receiving vaccines. I was a science communicator when I spoke to others about my decisions to fully vaccinate my son according to the recommended schedule and how he is now a healthy, happy 9-month-old.
When communicating scientific topics, remember to borrow elements from stories to strengthen your message. Think about all the features of a story (character, action, sequence, scope, narrator, and content) and how you might incorporate them into your theme. Everyone can find opportunities to strengthen their science communication, whether in their work or in their everyday interactions with friends and family. (The conversation) AMS
