Title: Countering Science Denialism with Storytelling (four-week workshop series)

Facilitator: Kimberly W. Heiman, Senior Lecturer of Biology at Muhlenberg College and published essayist and short story author.

Dates/Time: Fridays, January 30 & February 6, 13, and 20, 2026, from 10 am – 12 pm

Location: Zoom

Description:
With the increasingly frequent attacks on science, education, and public health, scientists must find ways to fight back against pervasive misinformation, science denialism, and the demonization of our field. One underutilized tool in the science justification and communication battle is narrative storytelling. As practicing scientists, we are taught to remain unbiased, but this inhibits our ability to connect with the public, making us seem like aloof know-it-alls.

In this workshop series, you will learn how storytelling prompts understanding and retention of information by discussing research from fields including neurobiology, psychology, and educational studies. Each week, we will examine passages from successful scientist-authors, including Robin Wall Kimmerer, Hope Jahren, and Neil deGrasse Tyson, identifying the creative writing techniques they use to weave science into their stories. Writing exercises will provide participants with opportunities to experiment with the narrative craft skills discussed, such as creating characters, describing scenes and actions, and developing plot arcs from their research. Feedback will be provided on your pieces via in-session peer-workshopping as well as from the workshop facilitator. Participants will leave the series with an appreciation for the power of storytelling and new creative writing tools in their science communication toolkit.

Registration link: https://forms.gle/UiTEXaYSDSxLM5Mj6