OSU's New Story Lab Initiative Brings Research to Life with Fact-Based Storytelling
By Halle Belle Sheppard
Every member of the university knows the familiar feeling of hearing about a new lab doing exciting research, but finding the discoveries obscured within a journal article with jargon like “Zoosemiotics” and graphs that have more points than a porcupine’s back. While these formats are essential within academia, they can make it difficult for broader audiences to connect with the discoveries—and the people behind them.
OSU’s new Story Lab is working to change that.
A research storytelling studio, Story Lab brings together students, faculty, and professional media producers to “advance research impact through narrative.” Alongside various stakeholders, including researchers, nonprofits, Tribal partners, and government agencies, Story Lab creates compelling, fact-based narratives that span all forms of media, from photography to podcasting, writing to film.
“The main mission of Story Lab is to train the next generation of storytellers,” explains Tim Jensen, the director of Story Lab. “We want to equip students with storytelling skills they can take out in the real world and involve them with projects.”
That mission comes at a critical moment. Jensen explains how, in these unprecedented times of declining trust in higher education and in the scientists communicating research, reaching out in new ways is becoming increasingly important. “We are showing people through stories how research impacts people’s everyday lives.” Jensen describes how “the big picture of what we're trying to do is raise our capability for research storytelling” and evolve storytelling methods to communicate why research matters.
The initiative began as a seed that was planted four years ago with Creative Director David Baker and has come to life with the help of a dedicated team, including Chris Johns, the former editor-in-chief of National Geographic and a Story Lab core team member and cabinet chair.
“I love working with researchers,” Johns says. “They're curious, entrepreneurial, and mission-driven in all the right ways, which for me is an ideal combination.” But for Johns, the work goes beyond showcasing research. “A big part of what we're doing is developing really top-notch science writers,” Johns explains. Story Lab students are embedding with researchers across OSU’s campus and beyond, among them the Levi Lab, where researchers are exploring “the interface of human and natural systems.”
The Levi Lab explores topics such as how anthropogenic disturbance to ecosystems influences the emergence of infectious disease, salmon allocation between humans and wildlife, and how to manage wildlife to meet livelihood and conservation goals in the Neotropics. Story Lab students working with the lab are developing projects that translate this research into formats that resonate with broader audiences. While the final piece is still in development, the range of potential formats—from video to photography—gives student storytellers the freedom to experiment and determine what best serves the story.
Story Lab also studies the effectiveness of its own work. “The ‘lab’ part of Story Lab is studying these narratives to see how they work,” Jensen explains. Each project is tracked for engagement, reach, and impact, allowing the team to refine its approach and better understand how storytelling can connect with different audiences.
The students involved in Story Lab can be studio associates or fellows, and each has a hand in shaping the stories that are created from the initiative. Kaitlyn Hornbuckle, for example, is a Story Lab associate videographer who is currently working on a story about research on the coast at Hatfield Marine Science Center. She is producing a documentary about an honors class’s coastal experience, highlighting their hands-on learning, including building underwater equipment.
Liam Whitworth is a Story Lab fellow and describes Story Lab’s meaningfulness as it brings together research, media, and public storytelling. “The ideas and tools we’re exploring feel timely and relevant to where I think the communications industry is headed,” he says. “I love seeing creative writers translate complex ideas for broader audiences, especially when that work can raise awareness and deepen public understanding.”
Taking inspiration from Robin Wall Kimmerer, Whitworth is currently working on two stories about ecology, place, and how humans relate to the natural world. “I’ve appreciated being in conversation with thoughtful mentors who understand my goals, care about craft, and want to help me tell better stories. I’ve felt very supported throughout the experience.”
A new initiative, Story Lab is just getting started but continuing to grow and tell more stories. “There are a couple of projects that will really kick into high gear later in the spring and summer,” Johns teased.
Jensen hopes to position OSU as a leading home for environmental storytelling and communication, showcasing research across the state and beyond while blending science communication, transdisciplinary approaches, and a focus on the public value of research.
For the students, they get a research portfolio as broad as it is deep. For the community, they get to see the impact of this research in their everyday lives. For all of us, we get a deeper understanding of the science stories across Oregon and the researchers and storytellers forging a brighter future.
