Science Storytelling and the Paradox of Suspense

There *are* ways to tell science stories that keep people on the edge of their seats -- and motivated for action. Few people actually know how to write them well, and three expert science storytellers will share their secret strategies. 

Join Academy Award-winning producer and screenwriter Scott Z. Burns; Co-Chairman, the Presidents' Circle, The National Academies, Davis Masten; and Stanford expert in neuropsychology of desire and suspense, Brian Knutson, as the they disclose their secret strategies for powerful science storytelling:  

Scott Z Burns, Academy Award-winning producer, director, and screenwriter. 

Scott produced An Inconvenient Truth, and has written screenplays for Contagion, Side Effects, and, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, The Bourne Ultimatum, among others. He will discuss his strategies when researching and writing science stories for Hollywood films.

Davis Masten, Co-Chairman, the Presidents' Circle, The National Academies.

Davis co-chairs the Presidents' Circle of the National Academies, including the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council. He also chairs the advisory board of Quantified Self Labs. He will share his secret of how to influence positive public opinion regarding science, and how to get more funding for science research.

Brian Knutson, Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, Stanford University. 

Brian is an expert in neuropsychology of desire and suspense. His laboratory uses multiple methods-- psychometrics, psychophysiology, brain imaging and pharmacology -- to investigate neural mechanisms that underlie emotional experience. He will discuss how some of his groundbreaking discoveries can predict people’s choices --- from taking financial risks to making decisions on product purchases.

Please note there has been a change in the location. Due to high interest, we've moved the event to a bigger venue.