Storytelling Science for Sustainability – Using Storytelling to Communicate the Science of Sustainable Food Systems

Sustainability issues are inherently complex, making them challenging to communicate effectively. As planetary boundaries are being exceeded, it is crucial to develop suitable communication formats to inspire and facilitate urgent action. This case study explores how storytelling can support the communication of sustainability science, using food system transition as an example. Findings from an outreach event reveal that sustainability scientists appear more open to storytelling than indicated in previous studies. The audience perceived storytelling as an effective way to engage nonexperts and complement traditional scientific presentations. Crafting a story from science was seen not only as a means of communicating research but also as a valuable tool for researchers to gain deeper insights into their data. While some participants appreciated storytelling for fostering creativity and co-creation, others expressed concerns about oversimplifying or obscuring key content. We recommend enhanced training for sustainability scientists and further research involving nonacademic stakeholders.