PubHawk
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A September 2014 PMID 25225368

Using narratives and storytelling to communicate science with nonexpert audiences.

Michael F Dahlstrom

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Mentions

141
Peak: 15 in Jun 2024
across 7 sources since Apr 2018

Extended reach

527,301
potential audience

Total likes

18,280

Video views

400,896

Mentions per month

Apr 2018 – May 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News59 articles
  • X / Twitter36 posts
  • Blogs28 articles
  • Facebook12 posts
  • YouTube3 videos
  • Reddit2 posts
  • Bluesky1 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The collection of discussions highlights a generally positive view of using narratives and storytelling in science communication, with posts emphasizing its potential to connect with nonexpert audiences. For instance, several posts explicitly cite the article to underscore the importance of storytelling, and some relate it to current debates or social discussions around misinformation and conspiracy theories. The tone varies from casual to scholarly, reflecting both curiosity and recognition of storytelling’s practical value, but there are also hints of concern about ethical boundaries and the depth of engagement needed for meaningful communication.

AgreementModerate agreement

Many discussions support the idea that storytelling is a valuable tool in science communication, noting its effectiveness in reaching nonexpert audiences.

InterestHigh interest

The level of curiosity is high, evidenced by mentions of debates, debates, and references to influential figures, indicating active engagement with the topic.

EngagementModerate engagement

While some posts primarily acknowledge the concept, others delve into implications and ethical considerations, showing a moderate but genuine interest in applying storytelling techniques.

ImpactModerate impact

There is a perception that using narratives can significantly enhance understanding and reach, although it remains somewhat uncertain how profound or widespread this impact will be in practice.

Abstract in brief

  • Narratives and storytelling are effective tools for communicating science to nonexpert audiences because they improve understanding, interest, and engagement.
  • Most nonexperts learn about science through mass media, which tends to use storytelling, making it a natural and relatable way to present scientific information.
  • While narratives can be persuasive and helpful for reaching resistant audiences, their use in science communication also raises ethical questions that need careful consideration.]
Read the full abstract

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Mikihito Tanaka
@J_Steman · X

（続き） Using narratives and storytelling to communicate science with nonexpert audiences https://t.co/X0OoomdivI こちらもレトリックを考える上で参考になるはず。

Feb 17, 2020 · 22 likes · 9 shares · 4,830 followers View post →
Puma Chairo
@PumaChairo · X

Recordatorio de que Jordi Wild va a organizar un debate entre TERRAPLANISTAS (Mr. Tartaria) y divulgadores científicos. Vean nada más la clase de gente a la que el podcast de mayor audiencia en habla hispana les va a dar foro: https://t.co/n1ZkaOjtBy

Jun 16, 2024 · 19 likes · 1 share · 25,419 followers View post →
Gerry Molloy
@gerry_molloy · X

Personal narratives often resonate more strongly than the most rigourous analyses of the numbers. Have we used this enough in the pandemic or will more frequent use of 'anecdata' ultimately undermine strong evidence? Are more numbers & narratives needed? https://t.co/1VYX9O3PFS https://t.co/I2XUEhsdzw

Mar 16, 2021 · 7 likes · 1,618 followers View post →
∆.R.∆.M
@aramh4ck · X

El cerebro de los conspiranoicos https://t.co/GaHpp8rA5y

Jun 17, 2024 · 1 like · 1 share · 31,350 followers View post →
Tianqiao & Chrissy Chen Institute
@ChenInstitute · X

How important #storytelling in #science? Read this @PNASNews article "Using narratives and storytelling to communicate science with nonexpert audiences." TCCI is helping students #perfecttheirpitch so check out @YouTube for some samples! https://t.co/b2F0dEsk8w https://t.co/pkB6k2rBLp

Dec 18, 2019 · 1 like · 1,534 followers View post →
Yvo 
@alucinayvo · X

La caída del razonamiento... El CEREBRO de los CONSPIRANOICOS https://t.co/BFEkW6R9Df

May 1, 2025 · 1 like · 1,437 followers View post →

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Yvo 
@alucinayvo · X

La caída del razonamiento... El CEREBRO de los CONSPIRANOICOS https://t.co/BFEkW6R9Df

May 1, 2025 · 1 like · 1,437 followers View post →
PreZton ART
@Th3_Prezton_050 · X

@3HuntLe0 https://t.co/gAszYfPr4S

Sep 3, 2024 · 185 followers View post →
Pineiden | #rechazo con amor, no al fascismo
@Pineiden · X

https://t.co/5kzHce1tqC

Jul 12, 2024 · 2,415 followers View post →
RayGtc
@ElUltimoRay · X

Yo dejo esto por aquí. Y ya cada cual que se aplique su parche.

Jul 7, 2024 · 301 followers View post →
EDGE
@Metalquantumm · X

@3HuntLe0 https://t.co/DWNJGCEDE0

Jul 3, 2024 View post →
Estrella que brilla
@brillomucho2004 · X

https://t.co/HnzaGpLexp

Jun 24, 2024 · 51 followers View post →
Monkey D. Luder
@Geborgenheit666 · X

https://t.co/2MSwTPUG4K

Jun 18, 2024 · 309 followers View post →
Simnba
@Simnba5 · X

@destapandolose1 https://t.co/bgo3mbMyVB

Jun 18, 2024 · 5 followers View post →
Simnba
@Simnba5 · X

@ElFelizRabanoir @destapandolose1 https://t.co/bgo3mbMyVB

Jun 18, 2024 · 5 followers View post →
Simnba
@Simnba5 · X

@ElFelizRabanoir @destapandolose1 Esto ya es patológico, ver simbolos en cualquier cosa https://t.co/bgo3mbMyVB

Jun 18, 2024 · 5 followers View post →
SilvirXx
@SilvirXx · X

Bros subiendo videos de Karles Torah sin darse cuenta que eso lo que hace es llegarle a mas gente, si no fuera por pajuos como estos yo nunca me hubiese enterado de Q en 2021 https://t.co/Xbuk0Z1fMD

Jun 17, 2024 · 310 followers View post →
Deivy
@HectorDeivy · X

RT @aramcoder: El cerebro de los conspiranoicos https://t.co/GaHpp8rA5y

Jun 17, 2024 · 1 share · 108 followers View post →
∆.R.∆.M
@aramh4ck · X

El cerebro de los conspiranoicos https://t.co/GaHpp8rA5y

Jun 17, 2024 · 1 like · 1 share · 31,350 followers View post →
Amphxos
@amphxos · X

El CEREBRO de los CONSPIRANOICOS (Patológicos) https://t.co/YKRQQj6LoO

Jun 17, 2024 · 683 followers View post →
zeotres
@zeotres · X

El CEREBRO de los CONSPIRANOICOS https://t.co/Qfl6vSBliL via @YouTube

Jun 17, 2024 · 11,442 followers View post →
EaMp
@EdissonArleyMor · X

El CEREBRO de los CONSPIRANOICOS https://t.co/GiwltAG0JI a través de @YouTube

Jun 16, 2024 · 724 followers View post →
Tenchi
@Tenchi · X

El CEREBRO de los CONSPIRANOICOS https://t.co/9AEur8U5nB a través de @YouTube

Jun 16, 2024 · 104 followers View post →
/home/users/G-0
@G_OdEViL · X

RT @PumaChairo: Recordatorio de que Jordi Wild va a organizar un debate entre TERRAPLANISTAS (Mr. Tartaria) y divulgadores científicos. Vea…

Jun 16, 2024 · 1 share · 1,385 followers View post →
Puma Chairo
@PumaChairo · X

Recordatorio de que Jordi Wild va a organizar un debate entre TERRAPLANISTAS (Mr. Tartaria) y divulgadores científicos. Vean nada más la clase de gente a la que el podcast de mayor audiencia en habla hispana les va a dar foro: https://t.co/n1ZkaOjtBy

Jun 16, 2024 · 19 likes · 1 share · 25,419 followers View post →
86Shyguy
@86Shyguy · X

@YaNutbein @resistors_sis @SusanEacock This explains it perfectly. https://t.co/YRPo0mjqlx

Aug 27, 2023 · 2,246 followers View post →
Jerry Durham
@Jerry_DurhamPT · X

RT @Shivaz1077: "should science communication create agreement toward a preferred outcome or promote personal autonomy to make choices?" ht…

Sep 22, 2022 · 1 share · 15,960 followers View post →
Shivaz Rose
@TandooriElvis · X

"should science communication create agreement toward a preferred outcome or promote personal autonomy to make choices?" https://t.co/mz5CxbFarf

Sep 21, 2022 · 1 like · 1 share · 288 followers View post →
Rogue One
@Rogue__One · X

@swhiteside @DrJadeMcGlynn Michael Dahlstrom, Using narratives and storytelling to communicate science with nonexpert audiences

Mar 27, 2022 · 855 followers View post →
Gerry Molloy
@gerry_molloy · X

Personal narratives often resonate more strongly than the most rigourous analyses of the numbers. Have we used this enough in the pandemic or will more frequent use of 'anecdata' ultimately undermine strong evidence? Are more numbers & narratives needed? https://t.co/1VYX9O3PFS https://t.co/I2XUEhsdzw

Mar 16, 2021 · 7 likes · 1,618 followers View post →
Advice For Life Scientists
@AdviceFLS · X

https://t.co/Vf6BD1RGd5

Feb 17, 2021 · 663 followers View post →
Kazuo O.
@NorthEast57 · X

RT @J_Steman: （続き） Using narratives and storytelling to communicate science with nonexpert audiences https://t.co/X0OoomdivI こちらもレトリックを考える上…

Apr 11, 2020 · 9 shares · 289 followers View post →
Yuki Sasakawa
@sala031201 · X

RT @J_Steman: （続き） Using narratives and storytelling to communicate science with nonexpert audiences https://t.co/X0OoomdivI こちらもレトリックを考える上…

Feb 18, 2020 · 9 shares · 757 followers View post →
TANAKA Sigeto
@twremcat · X

RT @J_Steman: （続き） Using narratives and storytelling to communicate science with nonexpert audiences https://t.co/X0OoomdivI こちらもレトリックを考える上…

Feb 18, 2020 · 9 shares · 2,612 followers View post →
Sakino Takahashi
@sakinotk · X

RT @J_Steman: （続き） Using narratives and storytelling to communicate science with nonexpert audiences https://t.co/X0OoomdivI こちらもレトリックを考える上…

Feb 18, 2020 · 9 shares · 5,545 followers View post →
NOZAWA, Satoshi
@st_nozawa · X

RT @J_Steman: （続き） Using narratives and storytelling to communicate science with nonexpert audiences https://t.co/X0OoomdivI こちらもレトリックを考える上…

Feb 17, 2020 · 9 shares · 1,404 followers View post →
うきくさ@サイエンスブックフェスタ大阪11/2
@Sphingobiumm · X

RT @J_Steman: （続き） Using narratives and storytelling to communicate science with nonexpert audiences https://t.co/X0OoomdivI こちらもレトリックを考える上…

Feb 17, 2020 · 9 shares · 345 followers View post →
佐藤賢一の中の人
@ke_1sato · X

RT @J_Steman: （続き） Using narratives and storytelling to communicate science with nonexpert audiences https://t.co/X0OoomdivI こちらもレトリックを考える上…

Feb 17, 2020 · 9 shares · 9,671 followers View post →
はるやすみ
@dandonban · X

RT @J_Steman: （続き） Using narratives and storytelling to communicate science with nonexpert audiences https://t.co/X0OoomdivI こちらもレトリックを考える上…

Feb 17, 2020 · 9 shares · 1,213 followers View post →
Mikihito Tanaka
@J_Steman · X

（続き） Using narratives and storytelling to communicate science with nonexpert audiences https://t.co/X0OoomdivI こちらもレトリックを考える上で参考になるはず。

Feb 17, 2020 · 22 likes · 9 shares · 4,830 followers View post →
aulia soebandhi
@bragabons · X

Using narratives and storytelling to communicate science with nonexpert audiences https://t.co/zbYwENdD6g

Jan 13, 2020 · 162 followers View post →
Tianqiao & Chrissy Chen Institute
@ChenInstitute · X

How important #storytelling in #science? Read this @PNASNews article "Using narratives and storytelling to communicate science with nonexpert audiences." TCCI is helping students #perfecttheirpitch so check out @YouTube for some samples! https://t.co/b2F0dEsk8w https://t.co/pkB6k2rBLp

Dec 18, 2019 · 1 like · 1,534 followers View post →
Liz Foote
@footesea.bsky.social · Bluesky

...4) Dahlstrom, Michael F. “Using narratives and storytelling to communicate science with no expert audiences” Proceedings of @theNASciences 111. Supplement 4 (2014): 13614-13620 #scicomm #NABI18

Apr 27, 2018 · 1 share View post →