It’s All About the Vibes: Embedding Creativity and the Arts
Gilberto Morishaw

As researchers, we are trained to revere data. We spend months, sometimes years, rigorously gathering facts, assuming that presenting a logical, evidence-based conclusion will naturally compel our audience to listen and care. Yet, often we are disappointed in the realization that facts don’t always matter. In fact, facts rarely matter. We see this phenomenon happening all around us whether it is in politics or in business and even when we are confronted with existential threats like the climate crisis and war.

Human cognition relies heavily on motivated reasoning, a process where individuals evaluate information in ways that protect their preexisting beliefs and social identities (Kunda, 1990). When confronted with contradictory facts, audiences frequently deploy cognitive defenses rather than objectively updating their knowledge. Furthermore, directly correcting misinformation can sometimes trigger a "backfire effect," causing individuals to actively strengthen their original misconceptions (Nyhan & Reifler, 2010). Consequently, relying solely on data-heavy presentations often provokes defensiveness, rendering audiences unreceptive to the research being shared.

The truth does not matter until you can feel it. Foundational neuroscience indicates that emotional engagement is inextricably linked to rational processing and decision-making (Damasio, 1994). Within science communication, scholars emphasize the necessity of affective engagement, observing that audiences invariably interpret data through emotional and cultural frameworks (Davies et al., 2019). Integrating the arts into presentations allows researchers to bypass the cognitive barriers often erected against clinical statistics. This artistic integration establishes a resonant environment, transforming abstract concepts into tangible experiences and rendering research both memorable and actionable.

In this workshop we will briefly explore a few methods and techniques that allow researchers to enhance the effectiveness of of their presentations by imbuing them with cultural elements. By making use of learnings from music, storytelling and improvisation we bring the vibe that makes the substance accessible.