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Fierce competition at EMV science slam: "Taught me how powerful storytelling can be"

Two women and two men standing on a stage. Photo.
Tomas Björklund, Yiyi Yang, Fereshteh Dorazehi and Umut Aydemir relaxes after competition.

Three brave young researchers took the stage during EMV's retreat in Båstad recently to present their research in a popular scientific manner; for four minutes, followed by the audience's opinion. "A real challenge!"

The tension was almost unbearable. But all three gave a great performance and the audience chose a winner by menti. The group was trained by Professor Tomas Björklund, a winner of several science slams. 

So what did the contestants take home from the slam? 

Man on stage giving a talk. Photo.
Umut Aydemir, Doctoral student in the Chemical biology and therapeutics group.

"I learned how a powerful storytelling technique in communicating complex science could resonate with people from any background. I will carry this mindset into future presentations and collaborations, making sure the potential of our heart research is communicated in a way that inspires both scientific colleagues and wider society". 

Woman on stage giving a talk. Photo.
Fereshteh Dorazehi, Doctoral student in the Epigenetics and chromatin dynamics group.

"Turning complexity into clarity was tough but it taught me how powerful simple storytelling can be. Going forward, I would like to share my research in ways that spark curiosity and connect with people beyond my own field".  

Woman on stage giving a talk. Photo of toddler on screan behind woman. Photo.
Yiyi Yang, Postdoc from the Neuroinflammation group. Photo: Emma Nyberg.

"This experience gave me a new perspective on the significance and value of my study, and on how to present it in the context of public knowledge. I realized the importance of conveying complex scientific ideas in a way that is simple, clear, and engaging for a broader audience. Moving forward, I want to apply this experience to communicate my ideas more effectively to the public. I will actively look for more opportunities to engage in this kind of science communication in the future."

What is science slam?

A science slam is a competition where researchers give short, entertaining, and accessible presentations about their scientific work to a non-expert audience. The main goal is to bridge the gap between scientists and the public by making complex topics understandable, fascinating, and fun for everyone, even for those without a scientific background