Storytelling for researchers

About the course

All stories start with a question; “what if…?”. 

In research, we ask “what if…?” too, but we call this question a hypothesis, and seek to answer it with experiments and studies. Despite this likeness between research and stories, many of us struggle to communicate our work effectively and engagingly. Well, what if researchers became better storytellers?

In this day long course, you will be given the tools you need to tell creative and compelling stories about your work to make you more memorable, understandable and engaging, increasing the overall impact of your work. 

In the morning, you will cover storytelling theory; how to structure like a storyteller, how to create compelling worlds and characters (even in a literature review!), and how to use language succinctly and engagingly to make your message pitch-perfect for any future audience. 

Then, in the afternoon, you will look at three different scenarios in which you can practically apply these foundational skills; giving presentations, popular science writing and interacting with the media. 

There’s no prior experience of creative writing or presenting required – this training is for everyone from folks who detest giving presentations and want to inject some fun into the day-job, to regular writers and presenters looking to step up their game to the next level.

Who is it for? 

This course is open to Royal Society-funded researchers and British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering or Academy of Medical Sciences-funded researchers.  

Who is the tutor?

Dr Anna Ploszajski is an award-winning materials scientist, author, presenter, comedian and storyteller based in London. She’s a materials generalist, equally fascinated by metals, plastics, ceramics, glasses and substances from the natural world. Her work centres around engaging traditionally underserved audiences with materials science and engineering through storytelling. Having developed her own unique blend of autobiographical scientific storytelling in her first book, Handmade: A Scientist’s Search for Meaning Through Making, she now trains professional researchers and teachers to communicate what they do better, through the study of story. In her spare time, Anna plays the trumpet in a funk and soul covers band and is an ultra-endurance open water swimmer. Oh, and it’s pronounced “Por-shy-ski”. 

Upcoming dates

This course will be held on Monday 29 January 2024, 10am-4pm.  

How much does it cost? 

The course fee is covered for Royal Society-funded researchers and British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering or Academy of Medical Sciences-funded researchers. 

Further training 

This course is part of our upcoming programme of public engagement training courses:

• Promoting Yourself and Communicating the Value of Your Work, Wednesday 29 November 2023
• Evaluation in Public Engagement, Thursday 7 December 2023 (further details to be posted)
• Storytelling for Researchers, Monday 29 January 2024
• Engaging Events, Wednesday 21 February 2024 (further details to be posted)

Please get in touch if you have any questions.