The Story Laboratory, LLC

Science writing

Informational graphics

Teaching digital media non -fiction writing at Colorado College, January 2017

Author Anne Brataas field testing her children's books

Teaching young writers

Designing and teaching active curriculum

Stay safe! Click the title to read our Safe and Happy: A Children's Field

Guide to Thriving in a Pandemic

See more of our fun, friendly pro-public health lawn signs there, too!

We partnered with Minnesota Children's Press, www.minnchildpress.org to help children understand the latest scientific evidence so they could write and draw about how to stay safe, healthy and happy in the Coronavirus Pandemic of 2020-21.

Mentoring kids ages 5-15 in rural Minnesota about the science of pandemic safety helped them produce this book, "Safe and Happy: A Children's Field Guide Tp Thriving In a Pandemic", available February 2021. See our online curriculum and activities now: www.safeandhappy.org

59% of COVID-19 cases spread without symptoms

SCIENCE SOURCE: Journal of the American Medical Association, "SARS-CoV-2 Transmission From People Without COVID-19 Symptoms." 7 January 2021. JAMA Network Open. 2021;4(1):e2035057.doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.35057
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774707

Our Stick Figures know and show the transmission risk: 59% of COVID-19 cases are spread by people who don't know they are sick and socialize without masks or safe distancing. They either haven't yet developed symptoms, or are asymptomatic. SOURCE: Journal of the American Medical Association, "SARS-CoV-2 Transmission From People Without COVID-19 Symptoms." 7 January 2021. JAMA Network Open. 2021;4(1):e2035057. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.35057

We are proud to be a positive force of Minnesota small business helping scientists communicate, and children publish books in Minnesota printed with non-toxic inks, solvents and coatings. Just try to get safety information from books printed in China or Singapore, where most are printed.

About

The Story Laboratory is an award-winning science communications and learning consultancy. We specialize in optimizing the persuasive power of stories told in words, images and data graphics. Our goal is to transform the output of scientific models and investigations into meaningful, motivating stories of human inquiry–and wonder.

Our purpose is to solve science communications and learning problems through cogent translational science writing across print, mobile and Web media.

Our method relies on the advanced academic training and graduate degrees we hold in science; our mastery of storytelling techniques, scientific subject matter, visual rhetoric, content-centered design, E-learning strategies and technology-enhanced learning.

Our results matter. We strive to create meaning, we design for understanding.

We create stories and sites of insight.

Sure, go ahead, contact me! And come visit me at one of my Pop-Up Planaria Labs, like the one pictured below in the summer of 2019 in Zumbrota, Minnesota, at the Goodhue County Fair. I'm booking now -- contact me to get on my schedule!

PLANARIA POPUP LAB Anne traveled to 4 rural county fairs in the summer of 2019 to help Minnesota children and families learn about 21st Century advances in regenerative medicine. The field of regenerative medicine harnesses the body's natural healing powers of stem cells, and other technologies, that are the foundation of an evolving new medical economy in which Minnesota leads! To teach these concepts, Anne brought flatworms called planaria and a museum-grade video microscope for viewing them–and the body parts they are regrowing after being cut in half. Watch the 5 second video of a swimming head!

How

Four principles frame our work:

Story is the natural unit of meaning and learning in human life.
Smart stories boldly told in words, pictures and data graphics inspire action and influence outcomes.
It is not enough simply to write science. As writers, we must get ourselves read by engaging readers across print, mobile and Web media.
Mastery of writing craft, scientific content and communication technologies catalyze the deep and desired engagement with readers.

2019 AWARD Ask about Story Lab's most recent award from Regenerative Medicine Minnesota to support public outreach and teaching of 21st Century science in rural Minnesota with our Planaria Pop-up Lab!

In the 5 -second video below, watch the regenerative flatworm called a planarian shortly after its head was cut from its body. Yep, that triangle-y thing is its head and photoreceptors ( they are not really the cross-eyes they resemble) swimming away...without its body.