That’s what you hear in the lobby of science meetings. The standard reply is, “I heard a great talk this afternoon—the speaker told a really neat story about ...”
And there you have it. He or she told a good story. You want to know how to interest the public in your research? Tell a good story.
As a scientist, I never quite knew this, but since becoming a filmmaker, it’s obvious.
At age thirty-eight I resigned from my tenured professorship of marine biology and entered film school at the University of Southern California. From the first day, we were confronted with one basic principle—the most powerful means of mass communication is through the telling of stories. From Greek mythology to today’s blockbuster movies, it’s clear—tell a good story and the world will listen.
It begins with a single, simple ...