Document Type

Class Research

Publication Date

Spring 2026

Abstract

Science communication only accounts for approximately 2% of the entire scientific output of 2017-2022 (Parejo-Cuéllar et. al, 2024). It is an under-researched and under-valued field, especially in an age that has devalued science as a whole. The delicate art of explaining complicated ideas to people who are unfamiliar with scientific jargon is vital to humans’ understanding of the world. Butterflies & You is a documentary film exploring the relationship between humans and the many different butterfly species that call Illinois home. Video-based science communication is important to research and practice because of its impact on environmental advocacy and the growing popularity of video content. By making informative videos that appeal to a wide range of audiences, science communication can raise awareness for important environmental issues. Butterflies & You was informed by texts such as Ryan Vachon’s Science Videos: a User’s Manual for Scientific Communication, and Bill Nichols’s Introduction to Documentary. This project applies documentary film theory and industry standard practices. Impactful communication can only be achieved by identifying the intended audience and learning how to reach them (Vachon, 2018). These ideas were the guiding principles of my research, and the documentaries that inspired Butterflies & You are great examples of how to reach an audience. Many films influenced my work, including Dancing With the Birds. This film uses the strategies and visual language of expository and observational modes of documentary filmmaking (Nichols, 2017). The field footage of Butterflies & You includes uncommon butterfly species from around the state of Illinois, many of which are limited to very specific locations in Illinois, and have not been heavily documented on film. The results of my activity will contribute to the growing video science communication landscape, and raise awareness about butterfly conservation.

Comments

This paper won 2nd Place in the Undergraduate Division.

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Peer-Reviewed

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