The "Story" Lab: A Creative exploration of Sciences’ humanistic side

Being a scientist means producing scientific, objective, dispassionate knowledge. It also means being a human being with a particular story, particular human experiences, values, and perspectives. How are scientists to reconcile these two aspects?

Aim

The goal of this workshop is to explore the narrative space between science communication and science activism as two expressions of active citizenship. To that end, we will work some improv, and drama exercises to explore in an embodied what it means to be a practising researcher and how the experience of being a researcher maps onto researchers’ lives and activities as individuals and members of society more broadly. From that, we will reflectively discuss how the personal side of science might be important for the stories told in science outreach contexts.

The workshop will help you cast a creative glance at various intellectual activities in science and support participants in articulating their own stories on the humanistic value of scientific knowledge.

For whom

Climate scientists, natural scientists, and researchers from other academic disciplines are welcome. No previous creative experience is required.

About the convenor

Anatolii Kozlov is a philosopher of science and theatre practitioner. His research focuses on the topics of aesthetics and emotions in science. As a theatre practitioner, he recently staged a self-authored piece at the Cambridge "The Hatch" evening of New writing. He holds a doctoral degree in molecular biosciences and an MA in creative writing.

The “Story Lab” Workshop (UCL STS edition)