The Burness Effect - Training

Mars, It’s the Journey, Not the Destination

The now famous video “Curiosity’s 7 Minutes of Terror” tells the incredible story of the rover’s difficult landing and explains the complex process the engineers went through and the obstacles they faced in safely landing a $2.5 billion rover on another planet. Using animation and testimony from the engineers, the video turns the complex scientific process into a compelling and accessible story.

Words Imitating Art

An animated video by the Center for American Progress shows the impact of of short animated videos to explain complex topics like the Affordable Care Act.

Tinkering with Analogies

A clever analogy can be the best tool for communicating your important research findings to the public.

JAMA Commentary Calls on Researchers to Use Stories Strategically

Stories need to be told to make your work memorable. Those advocating without science or evidence behind their positions won’t be afraid to use stories, and this commentary demonstrates that you can use stories to deliver research in ways that aren’t misleading or dishonest.

The Daily Show Asks, What’s Science Up To?

The reality is many scientists are concerned about being a political talking point or a pawn in a larger cultural or political debate. The tragic outcome is that too many scientists use this as a reason to avoid engaging all together.

Memorable Messaging Matters…Ask the NIH

If the NIH can reduce years and years of amazing research into a few bullet points, you can do the same for your work, or your organization’s efforts.

Show Me the Infographics: Making Data Digestible

The infographic business is booming and that’s a good thing. At least for those of us who want to understand multifaceted issues such as the science process of stem cells or the complexities of health care policy.

Making (Seismic) Waves with Social Media

Remember what a powerful medium social media is for promoting your work far and wide… and sometimes fast.

Making Health Policy Pop: An Example from the News

The story is ultimately about shared decision making—a model of care that informs and includes patients in decisions about their care. The takeaway message is clear: by informing patients, we can avoid wide variations in care and ensure that the best choices are made regardless of financial incentives that may exist for the doctor.

TED Talks: Learning to Give Memorable Presentations

We often talk in our workshops about the need to be a student of the media to improve your interviewing skills. This holds true when it comes to improving your presentation skills as well—and TED.com is one of the best classrooms available.