Kill the villain!

Why centring on a mighty foe in research grants can pay dividends

Hollywood has long loved using science as a major driver in its storytelling. Scientists themselves have, however, been less keen to use storytelling techniques in communication, often because of the perceived conflict with objectivity.

But times are changing. Many researchers are now waking up to the idea that, used in a proper way, storytelling is a mighty ally when communicating science. It can engage and inspire the reader in a way that a mere listing of facts and findings will never do.