Storytelling in Science Education
Free online workshop and symposium – Wednesday 22nd April 2026
Co-hosted by: Durham University, UK (Centre for Academic Development and Centre for Professional Development) and Indian Institute for Science Education Research (IISER) Pune.
Storytelling is a powerful approach to deepening scientific understanding, stimulating imagination, and strengthening engagement across all levels of education. This workshop-symposium brings together science educators from the UK and India to explore how narrative can enrich science teaching, learning, and communication.
Participants will examine storytelling as a method for explaining complex concepts, fostering curiosity, and creating inclusive learning environments. The programme will feature case studies from both the UK and India, alongside opportunities for participants to share practice, exchange ideas, and engage in collaborative discussion.
The first half of the symposium will take the form of an interactive workshop focused on storytelling approaches and techniques. The second half will centre on case studies sharing teachers’ experiences, offering space for reflection, dialogue, and the sharing of classroom-based practices.
Format: Online (Zoom)
Date: Wednesday 22nd April 2026
Timing: 10.00am – 1.00 pm BST / 2.30pm – 5.30pm IST
Book your free place via this link:
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/durham-university/t-njjdrzd
Featured case studies:
Case study 1
This case study showcases transformative changes to Durham University’s first-year “History of Chemistry” module, shifting from a Eurocentric narrative to a global, story-driven curriculum co-created by student interns and staff. Diverse tales, Mesopotamian perfumers crafting scents from natural essences, Chinese gunpowder innovators revolutionising warfare and festivals, Arab alchemists preserving wisdom through the Translation Movement, and Indian zinc distillation pioneers mastering metallurgy, humanise chemistry’s evolution. These narratives reframe technical concepts as vivid human pursuits, fostering inclusivity, sparking curiosity, and inspiring critical thinking on science’s cultural roots. This approach offers a replicable model for narrative-driven science education.
Case study 2: Speculative Futures: Design Fiction as a Tool for Interdisciplinary Assessment
In this interactive session, we explore design fiction (creating fictional worlds and short stories to explore possible futures) as an innovative learning, teaching and assessment approach. Using a case study of an interdisciplinary, undergraduate module, we demonstrate how design fiction cultivates critical and imaginative thinking with students from non-design backgrounds. We will begin by highlighting student work and the specific scaffolding techniques used to guide non-specialists through the creative process. After addressing some pedagogical challenges, we will transition into a collaborative discussion. Participants will identify opportunities within their own disciplines to integrate design fiction and related storytelling modes into their teaching and assessment practices.
Confirmed speakers:
Dr Litka Milian (Durham University, UK)
Dr Neeraja Dashaputre (IISER, Pune, India)
Dr Neil Dixon (Anglia Ruskin University, UK)
Mr Asim Auti (IISER, Pune, India)
Professor Simon Rees (Durham University, UK)
For further information, please contact [email protected]
“Scientists tell stories which are scrupulously tested to see if they are stories of real life”
(Peter Medawar, Nobel Prize winner in Physiology or Medicine)