EURASF What's up?
It is great to watch science movies on demand. But isn't it much better to participate online in a live film screening to share the experience with a group of like-minded people? The Dutch science film festival InScience recently gave it a try and started an online film club.
In September, the European Academy of Science Film, EURASF, based in Vienna, will award the European Science Film 2020/2021. The submissions are highly promising.
What's up?
Samer Angelone from the University of Zurich conducts film workshops for scientists not in seminar rooms but in the inspiring environment of film festivals – with impressive success.
Video recommendation
A series of 5-to-10-minute videos produced by a public broadcaster report on the problems that arise when complex scientific contexts are reduced to short statements as they are needed for films and TV.
Successful science communication: Antikythera researcher Tony Freeth published not only a fascinating scientific paper about the famous astronomical mechanism but also – at the same time – a 30-minutes documentary about his team's work.
Research paper What's up?
YouTube's recommendation algorithms have a bad reputation. Did they do a better job when serious information was most needed?
Research paper
After having watched impressive and awe-inspiring nature documentaries people turn out to be less dogmatic. This effect is beneficial for social cohesion.
Reading recommendation
The future of grant proposals is video, some scientists suggest. They expect more efficient review processes and better funding decisions.
Three German media scientists carried out an extensive study about audiovisual science communication on TV and YouTube.
An inspiring media library presents selected movies.
Nature correspondent Alison Abbott reviews a new documentary on the European Commission's flagship neuroscience programme, which has fallen far short of what it had promised.
Famous German YouTuber Mai-Thi ranks first in the charts with her 2020 video "Corona is just getting started".
Reading recommendation Video recommendation
Did Germany deal adequately with climate change? This case is heard, in the year 2034, before the International Court of Justice.
One of the winners of FastForwardScience is a YouTuber who became successful thanks to a TV production company.
idw's initiative aims at promoting the use of videos in science communication.
A new study provides evidence, once again, that films need to tell effective narratives. Then they are even able to overcome ideological gaps.
Video review
Looking for good video stuff from collaborative research centers? You'll be disappointed. But there are alternatives.
The CEO of a video hosting platform dedicated to scholarly information explains why "video" is not yet well established in academia – and proposes measures to change this.
A promising model in it's early stages: The international science publisher Springer Nature offers scientists to produce videos instead of writing academic books.
What if you could talk with the deceased, at least with a perfect digital copy of them? Before you watch the movie: Join a panel discussion about the impact of AI.
Upcoming event
Go to the movies (and beware of the coronavirus): This event in Zurich focusses on science short films on the topics environment, science and society.
A German student watched out for science channels in other countries – and she made many finds.
Two videos, sponsored by the coal industry, successfully spread false information about the effects of atmospheric carbon dioxide - for more than two decades already. YaleClimateConnections.org now told their story.
Science communicators are satisfied if their communication efforts raise the audiences' "willingness to pay" – in this case for the conservation of coral reefs. But you have to choose wisely how exactly you address your audiences, a study shows.
Truly translating their research to the medium dance (and only second to film) is what this year’s winners of the »Dance your Ph.D. contest« have in common – they are all expert science communicators. That’s also where similarities end.
Listening recommendation
In this half-an-hour episode of Nature’s »Working Scientist podcast« Pakinam Amer »explores how science communication translates to film, comedy clubs, and virtual space clubs.«
Although YouTube could be an educational heaven the platform's algorithm takes you to its darkest corners. Researchers are now trying to get a more general picture of YouTube's watching recommendations.
How can scientific institutions make better use of the medium video? The German scientific news service, Informationsdienst Wissenschaft e.V., is piloting a new video service exclusively for its members. Its aim is to produce scientific news videos fast and predictably.
On the internet it’s mostly up to the users to check for trustworthiness and quality of content of their information sources. But how do users assess trustworthiness? For the case of online video lectures this has been studied in greater detail now.
Why should scientific institutions engage in the field of video? This interview with communicators from two renowned German institutions gives some answers.
To really connect with your audiences emotions are key. But it's not that simple, studies show.
User generated content is not of relevance any more. Success on YouTube is identical with professionalization.
To better navigate ethical challenges of technology you might consider to watch more science fiction movies.
»A festival on neurotechnology, anchored into the current state of science«, that's how art critic Régine Debatty experience the BIO·FICTION event.
Natalie Blaser analyzed 360° science videos from the perspective of the science of science communication.
A curated collection of articles about science web videos on wissenschaftskommunikation.de
These videos could help scientists to engage with YouTube audiences.
Science communication on YouTube is a wildly diverse genre. Some users take advantage of missing gatekeepers, with bad intentions. Others try to stick to journalistic standards.
The joy of this playlist, presented by research museums within the Leibniz assocation, is not only the diversity in objects chosen for being presented, but in the pace and style of the films themselves.
To all practitioners in science communication: If you read one paper this year make it this one. It sheds light on a question we face day in, day out: How should we disseminate research findings in a way that lay people understand and then want to know more about?
Call for papers: What is the role of science videos for science communication?
For the case of short clips about synthetic biology researchers studied which thinking processes the films triggered in viewers.
A German researcher demands that science should make better use of YouTube and cooperate with YouTubers.
Survey
A survey: YouTube vs. school – where do you learn more?
For a good video sometimes it's enough to just have a great protagonist and story.
These two videos have left the expository mode behind and instead opted for poetic and observational.
Some very interesting audiovisual science journalism is worth being pointed out to you.
Linear narrative structures are much less interesting for the audiences than, for example, the documentary modes poetic or performative.
From 120 submissions for the categories Substance, Scitainment and Vision, 17 videos have been selected.
These two videos are about as different in their tonality and form as two videos can be.
The standardized format – question, method, findings, relevance and outlook – appeals to many researchers.
The New Scientist recommends science YouTube channels.
It's mostly about getting the science right, Sci-fi screenwiters said at the World Conference of Science Journalists.
Misleading scientific information is not a peripheral phenomenon on the streaming platform.
»Mind my mind« by Floor Adams is a highly original animation that portrays the experience of an autistic young man as he navigates starting a romantic relationship.
Fictional films can inspire broad audiences beyond the usual target groups for science communication – but German science does not make use of this tool.
YouTube efforts to make conspiracy videos harder to find are not impactful.
When photographic artist and filmmaker Chris Jordan travelled to Midway Island, he found thousands of dead young albatrosses, their stomachs filled with plastic.
When you are in everybody’s way you are in the right place.
A woman's reponse to a failed Discovery Channel promotion: #ItsOurWorldToo
Get your pathogenic yeast knowledge up to speed in no time.
This short film really adds to the underlying scientific publication.
You're seeking a new job in research? You're applying for funds? You want to communicate your science? Video production skills are always of help.
Does the moving image equivalent of a written abstract add to scientific advance or to science communication towards general audiences?
A strong film concept, a touch of story, and a good beat – that's how you attract people.
Sometimes you're just too late for filming the real thing. But you can find workarounds.
MINTEEE foundation's report describes, among others, an upcoming Golden Age for Science in Entertainment.
Are specialized streaming platforms for science films on the rise?
Who spreads the flat earth theory? Mostly YouTube, as a study reveals.
Do films really change the behavior of their viewers? This can be put to the test.
Some surprise winners, some foreseeable awardees – and some who took home more than one award.
By uploading this video on YouTube He Jiankui became an objectionable celebrity.
A deep dive into the world of Nautiluses.
What happens when a mathematician who loves to bake has a 3D printer at hand?
EURASF
»Dusk Chorus« accompanies the eco-acoustics researcher and sound artist David Monacchi into the tropical forest of the Amazon.
A critical threshold of subscribers makes a German channel for popular science lectures attractive for users as well as scientific institutions.
Do popular science web videos which were explicitly made for the web attract more views than formats made for TV?
Traditional tone and narrative, but individual design.
This video is not the worst way to communicate a European Horizon 2020 science project.
Better find a good storyteller before producing your film.
Study says: Networks of YouTubers strongly drive the establishment of collaborations.
Should scientists engage in storytelling, or rather stay away from it?
You want to buy fake views for your video? That's easily done and mostly successful.
To promote your institution in a film, you need an excellent concept – and a good beat.
This animation deserves standing ovations.
At the University of Vienna, Documentary films, talks and an experts' discussion gave deep insight into issues of data privacy.
EURASF has the goal of promoting a European network to support science films.
A new international film festival premiered in Halle an der Saale, Germany.
Female creators on YouTube are judged in a much more hostile or sexist way than their male counterparts.
EURASF Video recommendation
Italian filmmaker Nicole Leghissa portrays scientists from Syriah, Irak and Yemen who left their countries after having experienced threats by the ruling regimes.
An e-book explores how the natural sciences are represented by moving images on the internet.
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