Exploring the effectiveness of documentary film for science communication

Abstract

The complexity of scientific research and its frequent lack of accessibility often creates disinterest among the broader public. Moreover, there exists a gap between the public perception of science and the reality of scientific research, which severely limits the scope of public engagement with science. This growing disparity is exacerbated by existing popular media that invariably portray scientists as either geniuses who constantly have breakthroughs or nerds without social skills buried in books. A new docuseries, Curiosity: The Making of a Scientist, created by the STAGE Lab [1] at the University of Chicago, addresses this issue by increasing awareness about science and scientists through entertainment. Each film of Curiosity focuses on a single scientist and tells the story of how they became a scientist by interweaving elements of their personal life together with the successes and failures they encounter in their scientific work. One of the main goals of the series is to present stories of the people behind the science. By creating a personal connection to the scientists, the series hopes to welcome public audiences into the world of science. The series is intended for public audiences including scientists and also non-scientists with little or no previous exposure to quantum physics or even science.The pilot of the Curiosity series, SUPERPOSITION [2], is a 25-minute film about a graduate student in quantum physics at the University of Chicago. This film was screened to several audiences covering most age-groups. To evaluate the success of this film, audience members were requested to fill a detailed anonymous survey [3] after the viewing. Via these surveys, viewers reported an increased interest in science and also felt a connection to the personal story of the graduate student. Survey responses also showed that this film stimulated the audience’s interest in and appreciate for quantum physics. Further analysis of the survey results also suggest creative documentary films, that can bridge scientific research along with the human enterprise of science, are an effective means of science communication to a broad audience. By inviting viewers to discover the world of science via universal themes that resonate with their lives, regardless of their familiarity with or affinity for science, Curiosity intends to educate the public about the world of science, scientists, and the realities of scientific research, thereby increase public engagement with science.