In 1995, Olson came to a stunning realization: Most of his students had sat in rapt attention during lectures to pass tests, not because he was interesting.
DON’T BE SUCH A SCIENTIST: TALKING SUBSTANCE IN AN AGE OF STYLE BY RANDY OLSON
In Don’t Be Such a Scientist, Olson describes how that conclusion changed his career and how it could change science communication. The book chronicles his 1995 decision to leave a tenured position as a marine biologist at the University of New Hampshire to attend film school. While there, Olson, now an award-winning filmmaker, learned that researchers could get their message across more effectively by taking a few cues from artists. For instance, journal papers and science presentations could be structured like screenplays to tell a story. Unfortunately, most researchers focus on their message’s accuracy (substance) alone and ignore style, he writes.
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