223  Story-telling and Learning

223.1 Story-telling helps us learn new material

In addition to building tension, story-telling also shows us how to make a personal connection with our audience. Table Table 223.1 lists a few of the many emotional elements that may appear in your talk.

Analytical Emotional
Quantitative plots Biographical stories
Scientific images: Microscope, gels, etc. Autobiographical stories
Gel images Fictitious stories
Facts & numbers Analogies & Metaphors
Gene & protein structures Diagrams
Specimens & samples Suspenseful revelations
Examples Humour
Statistical tests Surprises
Table 223.1: A short selection of possible analytical and emotional elements in a scientific presentation.

I like to think about the three Hs of connecting with your audience:

Heart
e.g. Personal stories of discovery, analogies, metaphors, anecdotes, a sense of wonder and fascination.
Hardships
e.g. A laboratory move, a committee meeting deadline, a difficult collaborations.
Humour
e.g. Mishaps in the laboratory, chance discoveries, self-deprecation.