On February 5, 2026, the Douglas Research Centre and Tremplin McGill welcomed 40 participants from 9 institutions to a warm and inviting event space in Montreal for From Data to Dialogue: The Role of Storytelling in Knowledge Translation. The event explored a growing movement in research culture: using narrative to make scientific work more engaging, memorable, and impactful.
The afternoon opened with an inspiring keynote from Renira Narrandes, whose dynamic talk reminded attendees that while science often prioritizes precision, productivity, and detail, meaningful communication requires something more human. Narrandes emphasized that “reaching hearts matters as much as reaching minds,” underscoring that clarity, vulnerability, and intention are essential when sharing complex findings.
Her message resonated deeply with participants, many of whom reflected on how rarely academics admit when a talk has lost them—or when information becomes disconnected from its real-world relevance. The keynote reinforced that storytelling is not a departure from strong science, but a multiplier of its impact.
The event continued with a panel discussion on Storytelling in Action, featuring Marie-Claude Geoffroy, Marjolaine Rivest-Beauregard, and Ivan Lemus. Together, the panelists explored practical ways researchers can bring their work to life—whether by anchoring data in lived experience, framing results around human questions, or considering the emotional journey of an audience.
Participants engaged in rich conversations about how narrative practices can shape understanding, build trust, and make research more accessible to communities, policymakers, and collaborators. The cozy venue and small-group discussions encouraged connection, reflection, and the exchange of concrete strategies for integrating storytelling into everyday academic communication.
A heartfelt thank‑you goes to the dedicated organizing committee—Marie-Claude Geoffroy, Kathryn Vaillancourt, Shutong Yu, Sylvanne Daniels, Nicolas Cermakian, and Manuela Ferrari—who made the event possible.
This collaborative event exemplified Tremplin McGill’s and the Douglas Research Centre’s commitment to supporting the next generation of scientists—not only in producing rigorous evidence, but in ensuring that evidence is understood, shared, and felt.
*** Both the Douglas Research Centre and Tremplin McGill are supported by the Fonds de recherche du Québec ***