This method has been developed within ParCos. This project has received funding from the European Union’s
Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 872500.
Trainer Cards
How to become better
at telling scientific stories
to the general public?

2
Index
About the Trainer Cards 3
What? 4
For whom? 4
Why? 4
When? 4
How to use the cards? 5
How to… 6
Overview of the cards 7
Overview 1 8
Overview 2 9
Find out more 12
Contact 13

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About the Trainer Cards

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About
the
Trainer
Cards
What?
This card deck is a reflection tool that contains
guidelines for the design, iteration, and evaluation of
science stories. The guidelines on the cards are posed
in the form of questions to stimulate thinking and
spark discussion. The questions on these cards are
based upon quality criteria for science dissemination
that are distinguished through a systematic review.
For whom?
The Trainer Cards are designed for science
storytellers, which can be researchers, students and
intermediaries such as media professionals, museum
and cultural heritage professionals, or mental, social
welfare and community-based practitioners who
want to translate their science story to the public.
Why?
The motivation behind this self-reflective card
approach is to give science storytellers more agency
in the development and evaluation of their science
stories. In doing so, the card approach can support
people to look at (the creation of) their science stories
from different perspectives.
When?
The cards can be used to develop and design a science
story (beginning), to iterate a science story (during the
process), or to evaluate a science story (final phase).

5
How to use the cards?

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How
to
use
the
cards
How to…
The cards can either be used individually or in groups.
Since there are various specializations within the field of science
storytelling, collective use is recommended when users do not have
expertise in all of the four dimensions of science stories; for instance,
when a background in science or curation is lacking.
By joining forces and using the card deck collectively, people can exchange
experiences and reflections, and possibly also engage in dialogues and
discussions at an advanced multidimensional level.

7
Overview of the cards

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Overview
of
the
cards
Overview 1
The cards are characterized by 3 properties: dimensions layers and themes
There are 4 science story dimensions
in the card deck. The dimensions
correspond with four different facets
of science storytelling:
Science
Communication
Technology
Impact
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Overview
of
the
cards
Overview 2
Within each dimension, we distinguish 3 layers
that are ordered according to their complexity.
These range from:
• The basic layer (layer 1)
• The intermediate layer (layer 2)
• The most advanced layer (layer 3)
There are one or more theme-specific
content cards within each dimension
and at each layer.
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Overview
of
the
cards
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THE SCIENCE
BEHIND THE STORY
IMPACT OF THE
SCIENCE STORY
Complexity
translation
Modes of
meaning
Curation
guidelines
Space and
curation
The scienctific
story content
Ethical
standards
What makes it scientific?
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Tools to support
the science story
Technological
translation
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Translation of
the narrative
Curation
Affect
guidelines
Effect
guidelines
Relatability and
responsibility
Process and
follow-up
LAYER #1
Different basic
components of
the science story
curation:
ground layer
LAYER #2
Digging deeper:
pillars
LAYER #3
Specialization:
expansion deck
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COMMUNICATION OF
THE SCIENCE STORY
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TECHNOLOGICAL
TOOLS (OPTIONAL)

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Overview
of
the
cards
THE SCIENCE
BEHIND THE STORY
1
3
5 10 12 20
2
4 9 11 19
IMPACT OF THE
SCIENCE STORY
Complexity
translation
Modes of
meaning
Curation
guidelines
Space and
curation
The scienctific
story content
Ethical
standards
What makes it scientific?
Tools to support
the science story
Technological
translation
Translation of
the narrative
Curation
Affect
guidelines
Effect
guidelines
Relatability and
responsibility
Process and
follow-up
LAYER #1
Different basic
components of
the science story
curation:
ground layer
LAYER #2
Digging deeper:
pillars
LAYER #3
Specialization:
expansion deck
COMMUNICATION OF
THE SCIENCE STORY
TECHNOLOGICAL
TOOLS (OPTIONAL)
8 14
15
18
7 17
6 13 16

12
Find out more

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INDEX
Find
out
more
ParCos website
Trainer Cards website
Priscilla Van Even General contact
Other ParCos tools
Discover the other tools for participatory science communication
developed within the ParCos project here.
Contact
Website
Website Email Email