abstract
Since publishers launched their own video channels on the internet, there is a growing demand toward short science videos explaining a given research. Studies have shown that such short videos aka video abstracts, have a positive feedback on the citation of the research paper they are associated with. But most scientist receive little if any training in filmmaking. We combined the writing and editing skills of actively publishing authors and documentary filmmakers and created a special training. We found that in two countries – Germany, Hungary – scientists and university students learn to produce short science videos for the internet in a considerably short period of time, given that proper supervision is provided.
introduction
To accompany an article published in Science (Sept., 2016) authors decided to create a short video about their results. The video abstract – uploaded to Youtube – attracted approximately 200K viewers in the course of 5 days. By the time you read this, it probably will make more than 300K. This example alone provides you about a quarter of a million reasons to do the same and make a video abstract about your research. But you might need a little bit of help. Fortunately Attila Andics, the corresponding author of the reference article, is among the trainers of the Popular Science Video Workshop.
materials and methods
Attila Andics et al. have an extensive experience in the production of video abstracts. In 2014 they teamed up with award winning natural history filmmaker Attila D. Molnar to make a short video. It quickly made its way into the top 10 most-viewed pieces on the video abstract channel of Cell Press. This encouraged the authors to form an intensive training called: the Popular Science Video Workshop. Participants were first divided into working groups. Working groups were then introduced to the most popular visual techniques applied in video abstracts: taught how to write scripts for their videos: how to record the video and audio content: how to edit the footage into a video and finally, how to share it. The demonstration phase was followed by teamwork when – under a constant supervision – participants were required to produce videos and upload them to the internet so that we could screen the results.
results and discussion
Our results show that actively publishing scientists and PhD students in Berlin, Hannover and Budapest were equally successful in producing a video abstract within a day. No background in filmmaking and no special equipment was needed, let alone the smartphones and laptops brought along by the participants. To popularize the fairly new genre of video abstracts and to encourage scientists to jump into filming, Popular Science Video Workshop share its findings in scientific articles and the Wikipedia: attends conferences: makes more and more video abstracts: and organizes new workshops around the world.
conclusion
To be a successful scientist, you have to be able to communicate with academic circles and the general public alike. For this, popular science video abstracts can provide a great deal of help. By learning a few simple rules of filmmaking, you can improve your impact considerably. These are the tricks Popular Science Video Workshop is going to teach you. Enroll the next training and join the ever-growing team of PopSci People.
fees, licence
To get an offer, or to learn more about prices and possibilites please contact PopSci People directly at popsci@filmjungle.eu
Thank you.
