Science plays an important role in understanding and shaping the world we live in. It is the foundation for new knowledge and technologies. But due to its complexity, science is often hard to grasp especially for the broader public. To build public trust in science, it is important to make scientific findings accessible to everyone. Therefore, they need to be communicated in ways that everyone can understand.
The Up-Goer Five challenge takes this idea to an extreme level. In this challenge, scientists are asked to present their research using only the thousand most common words in English. The challenge was inspired by an XKCD comic describing the Saturn V Rocket with the same limited vocabulary. In this comic, creator Randall Munroe replaced technical terms with simpler, unconventional descriptions, such as “Up-Goer” instead of “Rocket” or “Space Car” for the lunar module.
The aim of the challenge is to motivate participants to simplify the way they describe their research to a very basic level. It is not easy – for example, how do you explain atmospheric chemistry without using jargon? But with persistence, creativity, and a good portion of humor, scientists will learn to view their research from a new angle and find creative ways to communicate the essence of what they do. It is a fun way of strengthening communication skills.
In recent years, the Up-Goer Five challenge has become part of several scientific conferences, including the AGU Fall Meeting. Some examples from previous Up-Goer Five sessions at the AGU Fall Meeting include presentations on „Green and Red Lights Dancing in the Cold Night Sky“, „Colors of Sun Flashes: How Hot Are They?“, „A Friend to Help Show Little Air Rocks in Big Water“, or „Looking at the Sun’s Wind Where It’s Young and Weird“.
Next year, the Up-Goer Five challenge will make its debut at the EGU General Assembly. It will be part of the Education and Outreach Programme Group, which means that authors can submit a second regular abstract to another session. Participation from all disciplines and career stages is encouraged.
For anyone who is willing to take on the challenge, here are some tips for simplifying science:
- Find the core idea: Start by identifying the most important thing you want the audience to understand. What is the main takeaway? Once you have that, build everything else around it.
- Use metaphors and analogies: Comparing your research to everyday experiences can make complex topics more relatable. For example, describe ocean currents as “big moving water roads” or greenhouse gases as “a warm cover of our world“.
- Practice with non-experts: Try explaining your work to a friend or family member who is not in science. Their questions will help you refine your explanations
- Use the Up-Goer Five text editor: After shaping your presentation, enter it into the Up-Goer Five text editor. This tool, created by Theo Sanderson, will highlight any non-permitted words in red, helping you to ensure your vocabulary stays within the challenge’s limits.
If this sounds intriguing to you and you would like to participate in the session next year, please submit an abstract by 15 January 2025, 13:00 CET. Remember to use only the thousand most common English words for your abstract as well.
In simplifying the complex, we not only redefine our understanding but also pave the way for a more engaging and accessible scientific discourse. Let your work be bright in the world of easy things!
