Exploring the effectiveness of documentary film for science communication

Abstract

The complexity of science and its frequent lack of accessibility often creates disinterest among the general public. Furthermore, 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. A new docuseries, Curiosity-The Making of a Scientist, created at the STAGE Lab at the University of Chicago, addresses this issue by increasing the awareness and excitement around science and scientists. 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. Our intended audience includes scientists and non-scientists with little or no previous exposure to quantum physics or science. The pilot of the series, SUPERPOSITION, is a 25-minute film about a graduate student in quantum physics at the University of Chicago. To evaluate the success of this film, it was screened to several audiences covering most age groups, and audience members were requested to fill out a detailed anonymous survey after the viewing. Via these surveys, viewers reported an increased interest in science and a connection to the personal story of the graduate student that was purposefully woven throughout the film.