A common mistake graduate students make in their professional communications is focusing too much on data and the process of collecting that data and not enough on the story behind the research.
Often you will have to share your research with a general audience who will not have the full technical background you possess and will quickly be lost in the mires of facts, figures and equations. Often, these are the same people you need to convince to fund your research, project or business.
Studies show our brains are hardwired for stories. You can learn simple storytelling elements to make people listen, understand the value of your work, and want to support your research. Learn to capture the essence of your research, and find the story behind it and why it is important to you and the world.
Here’s a great prep session for this year’s “Three Minute Thesis Contest” presented by local author Charli Mills. Mills punches readers in the gut with emotive 99-word narratives. A born buckaroo, she grew up telling stories, earned a degree in creative writing and communicated brands for a living.
She teaches punchy storytelling and leads 99-word challenges at CarrotRanch.com. This workshop is 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday (Oct. 30) in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge. Register here.
By Graduate Student Government.