Activity Funded

Mediating the Invisible: Exploring the Influence of Interactive Narratives on Public Engagement with Complex Scientific Concepts

Reference
2025.01271.BD

Project Start Date
2026-02-01

Project End Date
2030-01-31

Principal Investigator

Edite Prado Felgueiras 1316-60F6-C8F9

Scientific Area
Social Sciences/Media And Communications

Abstract

This project explores the potential of interactive narratives to enhance science literacy, particularly when communicating complex scientific concepts, such as those in particle physics. It focuses on the design, development, and evaluation of two versions of a science documentary centred on the ATLAS experiment at CERN: one interactive and non-linear, the other linear-only. The interactive version will offer narrative agency and game-inspired elements, allowing users to navigate multiple perspectives and construct their understanding of the subject. A mixed-methods approach will be employed, combining qualitative feedback, cognitive testing, and comparative analysis between the two formats. Beyond evaluating learning outcomes and perception, the project aims to refine evaluation frameworks for interactive storytelling. By bridging narrative design, interactivity, and science communication, this project intends to offer new insights into how interactive media can make science more accessible to non-specialist audiences with limited prior exposure to complex scientific topics, such as particle physics.

Institutions

Main Institutions

Universidade do Porto - Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto (FE)

Other Institutions

Universidade Da Beira Interior - Unidade De Investigação Em Artes (iA*)
Universidade Do Porto - Faculdade De Ciências Da Universidade Do Porto - Centro De Investigação Em Química (CIQUP)
European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)

Funding 0,00 €

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - Portugal

Not available

2026-02-01 a 2027-01-31
https://doi.org/10.54499/2025.01271.BD
2025.01271.BD