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What is transmedia storytelling?
Transmedia storytelling, also called multiplatform or enhanced storytelling, is characterized by the use of multiple media platforms—video games, graphic novels, music videos, mobile apps and so on—to tell a story across time in an expansive rather than repetitive way. In 2007, Henry Jenkins wrote: “Transmedia storytelling represents a process where integral elements of a fiction get dispersed systematically across multiple delivery channels for the purpose of creating a unified and coordinated entertainment experience. Ideally, each medium makes its own unique contribution to the unfolding of the story.” In other words, in transmedia storytelling each element serves as a piece of a giant puzzle, thus contributing to the narrative while at…
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How to make your presentation more engaging: puzzle or problem?
How do you, as scientist, invite and welcome non-scientists into your wonderland? By making your ideas accessible? Do you avoid jargon and bullet points? Yes, you should definitely make your ideas accessible, avoid jargon and bullet points, and use all the other tricks of the trade to present ideas clearly and convincingly. However, this is not—any more—enough. Let me explain: we’re all suffering from information overload, so what’s the point in presenting more and more information even if it is clear and convincing? In this information-filled landscape, you may find that engaging an audience is becoming harder and harder. I tell scientists to use a different approach—present a problem, not…
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“Pop culture scaffold” — What it is, and how it’s used in science communication
To understand the concept of pop culture scaffold, we’ll rely on Neil deGrasse Tyson—acclaimed astrophysicist, planetary scientist, TV personality, science educator and science communicator—who advocates the use of pop culture references to make scientific concepts graspable to audiences of non-scientists. Pop culture—or popular culture—is the set of practices, beliefs, and objects that embody the most broadly shared meanings of a social system. It includes media objects, entertainment and leisure, fashion and trends, and linguistic conventions, among other things. Popular culture is usually associated with either mass culture or folk culture, and differentiated from high culture and various institutional cultures (political culture, educational culture, legal culture, etc.). So think music, film,…
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What is narrative?
“Narrative” is a framework used to tell a story by connecting a series of events. Randy Olson offers a more compelling definition—narrative is the series of events that occur in the search of solutions to a problem. However, in these posts we’re talking science communication. So we can say that “narrative” is one of the buzzwords currently used by science communicators—but it’s a buzzword because its importance has been highlighted only during the past few years, so it’s used over and over again. The use of this buzzword has been useful, though. Now, everyone recognizes its power—we all know that a convincing narrative is needed to win over an audience.…
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Understanding your current mindset is key to meaningful communication
Your unique mindset interacts with others’ mindsets to forge a communication bubble—it’s up to you to make the bubble pop or to make it bounce for the entire time you need it. Do you know how? First of all, you need to be aware of your mindset and be able to describe it. Mindsets, which are made-up by the constellation of your values and beliefs, shift and change over time, so it essential to keep track of these shifts and changes. You should attempt to understand others’ mindsets only when you feel you have a good understanding of your own. So, when does the bubble pop? Let me give you…
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Connect to your audience by adopting a regenerative perspective
“5 ways to connect to your audience” “6 ways to connect to your audience” “How to connect with your audience” You will find zillions of similar topics, worded differently, with varying number of “ways”. In other words, there is a lot of advice out there—in writing, in videos, in private conversations with your friends and colleagues. Specialized coaches will teach you many possible “ways” to connect, you may try some or all of them, and even convince yourself that you’re connecting. What are some of these ways? Let’s see—“Put only few words on each slide”; “Make and maintain eye contact”; “Move freely and own the room”; “Smile”; “Dress the part”;…