From that exact moment that I fell in love with science communication, I have also been looking for ways to improve. I have learnt a lot by trial and error. I have been lucky enough to learn on the job from different people, and over the past few years, the global pandemic has allowed me to invest in myself and my skills even more. One of the silver linings of the past year and half, if there can be any….
Like science and scientific research, getting started in science communication can feel like a never-ending learning curve. Even after you have been doing it for a number of years like I have, there are always new developments to keep up with. And new things you want to learn!
Now I would be willing to take a guess that if you are reading this, then you are a researcher, communicator or lifelong learner. How did I do? I would be willing to also guess that, like me, you love the idea that there is always more to learn – whether that is about a science topic or indeed science communication.
Back in 2016 when I started my love affair with science communication, I really struggled to find any really valuable sources of information. I also didn’t really know who to turn to and ask for advice or suggestions. As a PhD student, I just didn’t have the money to spend on the few courses that I could find, and you can be sure that I wasn’t then going to do a Masters degree in Science Communication after my PhD. So, the first things I started to allow myself to buy was books. Books about science communication.
I, for one, have definitely bought countless books and justified them to myself as “self investment” and/or “essential research”. And I just can’t seem to stop buying them at the moment. But I figured that if you are starting out in science communication, you might also want to start levelling up your skills and knowledge with a book purchase, or put some on your birthday or Christmas wish list. So, I wanted to share 13 books with you that cover a range of things within science communication that will help you get started and improve your scicomm skills.
{The books are linked to my Bookshop.org affiliate link, which means I receive a commission if you visit a link and buy something on my recommendation. Purchasing via an affiliate link doesn’t cost you any extra, and I only recommend products and services I trust. All opinions are my own. Affiliate links are marked with *}
The Science of Storytelling by Will Storr
Perfect if: you want to understand why storytelling is central to science communication
This is my number 1 recommendation. You will hear from me endlessly about the importance of storytelling for science communication. Well, this book will tell you the science, more specifically the neuroscience behind why our brains are wired to communicate through stories. My copy is embellished with notes and post its, and I have read it multiple times because it is such a good reminder. There are also some exercises at the end which are really useful. Seriously, you will get so much clarity on why you react to stories in different ways too.
Get your copy of ‘The Science of Storytelling’ here *
The Craft of Science Writing by Siri Carpenter
Perfect if: you are a researcher wanting to learn more about science writing and how science journalists work, or if you want actual hands on tips about science writing
This book contains the perspectives of science writers and journalists. It is organised to answer 5 key questions: what is a science journalist and how do you become one, what makes a science story and how do you find one, how do you report a science story, how do you tell a science story and how do you build expertise in science writing? As an almost introductory course to science writing, career advice and storytelling workshop rolled into one, it delivers for science communicators, but is also illuminating for researchers who may need to understand what science writers need from them for more impact.
Get your copy of ‘The Craft of Science Writing’ here *
The Science of Communicating Science by Craig Cormick
Perfect if: you want to learn more about effective practices in science communication that are informed by peer-reviewed research
“Are you wishing you knew how to better communicate science, without having to read several hundred academic papers and books on the topic? Luckily Dr Craig Cormick has done this for you!”
Cormick writes a great introduction into the world of science communication and even gets more advanced about problems in science communication, ethical issues and with lots of tips and ideas to put into practice.
Get your copy of ‘The Science of Communicating Science’ here *
So You Want to Start a Podcast by Kristen Meinzer
Perfect if: you *surprisingly* are thinking of starting a podcast
Podcasts continue to grow in popularity so you might want to join the wave and start one of your own. If you are like me and have an idea for a podcast but have been sat on it for ages, then this book will help you to make it a reality. It helps you define your goals and audience. It talks about hosting and booking guests, planning your structure and more. It is a step by step guide to get you started, but is also full of inspiration to help you constantly up your game.
Get your copy of ‘So You Want to Start a Podcast’ here *
Houston, We Have a Narrative by Randy Olson
Perfect if: you need to know why science needs story
If you have any doubt that your science would be ‘too dull’ to communicate or share with the public, then this book will show you a simple method to make anything dramatic (without sensationalising)! Olson, a researcher turned filmmaker, will show you how to go from reeling off fact after fact to telling stories with the ABT method.
This is a book that is useful for students, researchers at any stage of their career, communicators and science journalists alike.
Get your copy of ‘Houston, We Have a Narrative’ here *
Championing Science by Aines and Aines
Perfect if: you want to communicate your science with greater impact
There are a multitude of ways that researchers need to communicate their science beyond the public.
“Science once again needs champions who are scientists.” This book will create more of those champions. It’s filled with practical and actionable advice on communicating the critical issues to decision-makers.
Whether you need to pitch an idea to a skeptical politician or make the case for funding to busy business leaders, the tools and suggestions you find here will make you more effective. Roger and Amy Aines have done the scientific community a great service with this book.
Get your copy of ‘Championing Science’ here *
If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face? by Alan Alda
Perfect if: you want to understand more about how you as a communicator can relate to your audience
Drawing on improvisation training, theatre, and storytelling techniques from a life of acting, and with insights from recent scientific studies, Alda describes ways we can build empathy, nurture our innate mind-reading abilities, and improve the way we relate and talk with others. Exploring empathy-boosting games and exercises, If I Understood You is a funny, thought-provoking guide that can be used by all of us, in every aspect of our lives.
I utterly loved this! Very readable, with lots of examples that I can associate with. It’s got me thinking about how I relate to people around me.
Get your copy of ‘If I Understood You’ here *
Creative Research Communication by Clare Wilkinson and Emma Weitkamp
Perfect if: you want to embrace more creative ways to share science
Starting from the premise that researchers can and ought to participate in the public sphere, this book provides practical guidance and advice on contributing to political discourse and policymaking, as well as engaging the public where they are (whether that is at the theatre, at a music festival or on social media). By considering the plurality of publics and their diverse needs and interests, it is quite possible to find a communications niche that neither offers up bite-sized chunks of research, nor conceptualises the public as lacking the capacity to consider the myriad of issues raised by research, but explains and considers thoughtfully the value of research endeavours and their potential benefits to society.
Get your copy of ‘Creative Research Communication’ here *
A Short and Cheerful Guide to Creativity by John Cleese
Perfect if: you are suffering from a creative block
It really is a short guide too!
But this book plants the seeds that everyone can be creative. It is not just a gift that a select few possess. Instead, you just need to have the right mindset to help you come up with ideas that, in this case, will help you find new and exciting ways to share the latest science discoveries.
Is this book groundbreaking? No! However it’s a nice summary of the creative process that can be applied to most situations. It’s quite likely that you will read it and think I knew all of that, however it has been engagingly put together, is not stuffy or pretentious and if you precis it you will come away with some key points that will help you be more creative.
Get your copy of ‘A Short and Cheerful Guide to Creativity’ here *
Public Engagement Made Easy by Caroline Philpott and Alexis Willett
Perfect if: you are looking for concise, practical, step-by-step tips on the essential elements of public engagement, to help boost your impact
Public engagement is all about two-way communication and exchange. It involves others in your work, from start to finish: sharing ideas, knowledge and experiences that guide you towards your goal. And it’s never been more important. But the path to genuine engagement is riddled with potential pitfalls. If you want to get it right, this is the book for you!
I love textbooks and theory as much as the next person, but sometimes you just need a short, practical handbook that you can dip in and out of and scribble all over.
There is also a sister book called ‘Science Communication Made Easy’ which is a similar go-to handbook.
Get your copy of ‘Public Engagement Made Easy’ here or find a copy of ‘Science Communication Made Easy’ here *
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Perfect if: you need to give yourself permission to be creative
I LOVE THIS BOOK! It was something that I really needed and is a book that is always recommended by other creatives I chat to (which as a science communicator and/or scientist you are too!)
It posed many questions for me for my own future and also taught me to be more playful and trusting with my creativity in the process of ‘figuring it all out’.
So many scientists and science communicators I talk to view scicomm and engagement as a burden, but this book will make you feel more relaxed about the way you spend creative time.
Get your copy of ‘Big Magic’ here *
Talk Like TED by Carmine Gallo
Perfect if: you want to deliver an impactful science talk
Public speaking is key to a scientist’s career whether it is at academic conferences or on stage at public events, and this book has some fantastic advice about how to deliver your talks with much more clarity. It really helped me with my own TEDx talk, and I don’t know about you but I love a TED talk!
Carmine Gallo has broken down the top TED talks and interviewed the most popular TED presenters as well as the top researchers in the fields of psychology communications to get their cutting-edge insights and to reveal the 9 secrets of all successful TED presentations. From ‘Unleashing the Master Within’ and ‘Delivering Jaw Dropping Moments’ to ‘Sticking to the 18-minute Rule’ Gallo provides a step-by-step method that makes it possible for anyone to create, design, and deliver a TED-style presentation that is engaging, persuasive, and memorable.
Get your copy of ‘Talk like TED’ here *
Into the Woods by John Yorke
Perfect if: you want to know why stories work for science communication
The concept of storytelling is so essential to science communication that I have yet another book recommendation for you all about it!
The book is a dissection of story structure that takes the reader on a journey that begins with the well-known structure of Ancient Greek drama until the reader eventually realises that the same structures elements are also found in a fractal form in individual scenes in soap operas like Eastenders.
The thing I found most interesting was that the structure doesn’t just cover the novel as a whole but but also the constituent parts that make up that structure. Each scene, chapter or section follows a similar pattern. It makes perfect sense when you think about it, but I’d never really given structure much thought.
Get your copy of ‘Into the Woods’ here *
No matter what kind of science communication you are interested in, there will a book out there for you to learn more, hone your skills and grow your confidence. These are some of my favourites. There are other recommendations from me on my Bookshop page.
What are some of your favourite books that have helped with your science communication? Drop them in the comments below as I’m always looking for more to add to my TBR list.