The Story Collider comes to Manchester

26 Nov 2018

Researchers and academics from across the University developed their own personal, true story of science at an intensive story writing workshop.

Sheena Cruickshand at the Story Collider workshop

You may recall that Faculty colleagues were awarded more than £176,500 Investing in Success funding to explore ideas and create new projects; and the Story Collider is just one initiative that focuses on the personal development of academics, which in turn will have a positive impact on research and teaching. The award also fully supports the University’s strategy to be distinctive in Social Responsibility.

Professor Sheena Cruickshank, Senior Lecturer in the Division of Infection, Immunity & Respiratory Medicine and one of the University’s Academic Leads for Public Engagement, hosted the event. She said: “As a public engagement practitioner myself I strongly believe that the use of storytelling and narrative techniques is an important skill for our researchers to be able to communicate their research more effectively to both academic and non-specialist audiences.

“Stories help connect people to subject matter that may at first seem abstract or irrelevant. Stories help to create meaning, context and shared experience, which is the ethos of high quality public engagement. Storytelling can also enhance the quality of our teaching and so I see this as an incredible opportunity for us to enhance our social responsibility in teaching and learning practices too.”

After the workshop, attendees enjoyed a Story Collider performance, run by ScienceGrrl in collaboration with the Manchester Science Festival.

The University will host its very own Story Collider performance which takes place at The Birdcage in Manchester on Thursday, 6 December 2018, 6.30pm to 9.30pm (doors open at 6pm).

Tickets are free, and for all staff, students. Bring along your friends and family for them to see for their very own eyes the power of personal stories of science.