Running experiments and collecting data is your daily grind. You load up a protocol, follow the steps, cross your fingers that the experiment works, and then dive into data analysis, hoping for some sort of statistical significance. Rinse and repeat, right?
But when you try to describe your experiments to other scientists or lab members, it’s not exactly a walk in the park to explain what your complex 30-step protocol looked like.
So, why not create a video showing your methodology? 🧑🏻🔬
Making videos of your methods—whether it’s in the wet lab, out in the field, or crunching numbers on a computer—will enable more people to understand your work. These videos are perfect for knowledge exchange, promoting your lab, supplementing your papers, or even adding to grant applications. In fact, the Journal of Visualised Experiments (JOVE) was established as a resource for researchers to share these exact kinds of experimental videos.
Let’s be real, seeing the science in action is way cooler than just reading about it, right? So let’s get the film rolling!
Here’s the lowdown on creating killer science videos for different experimental research settings. 👇
1. Define the purpose of your video
Every great production starts with a solid plan. Will your video be used to explain a complex and intricate protocol or technique to new lab members, or is it going to be viewed by the general public where they won’t care too much about the little details? Remember, the purpose of your video will always be tied to your desired target audience.
Video examples
Explaining how to perform aseptic technique in a microbiology lab. Targeted to new lab members.
A guide on how to perform R analysis on complex data. Targeted to data analysts.
Showcasing a novel lab technique. Targeted to grant proposal assessors.
Describing how to identify rocks and ores in a field environment. Targeted to field operators.
Once you’ve decided on the purpose, it’s time to think about the content! 👇
2. Get inspired by where and how you work!
Do you work in a wet lab with various tubes and coloured solutions? Or are you more likely out in the field, collecting samples? And don’t worry, I didn’t forget about the computational researchers (you’re all valid too). 😉
Depending on where and how you work will determine what kind of footage you’re able to capture. 👇
Wet lab research
You can show off your pipetting skills, cell culturing, or gel running protocols. You can make those little procedures pop as if they were the most exciting things in the world!
Here’s some published examples from the Journal of Visualised Experiments (JOVE):
Fieldwork research
The great outdoors is the perfect setting for an epic film, or in your case, a science video. Show the environment you’re working in, the samples you’re collecting or surveying in real-time, or how you’re travelling from location-to-location. It’s like a travel vlog for your research! 🚗
Here’s a solid example of researchers rolling the tape in the mountain ranges of the Sierra Nevada:
Computational research
Okay, so staring at a screen may not be as flashy as the great outdoors, but there’s plenty of ways to make it interesting. You can show off your data analysis process, guiding the viewer with a step-by-step tutorial. It’ll be a feast for the eyes to see data turn into comprehensible data visualisations.
3. Scripting & storyboarding
Creating an engaging science video starts with a well-crafted script. When scripting, think about how to break down complex scientific concepts into digestible chunks. While writing a script, consult the guidance of a nifty storytelling structure called the ABT and focus on clear language that is appropriate for your audience. Once your script is ready, move on to storyboarding, where you map out each scene to visualise the flow and ensure your story is coherent and compelling.
Not all lab experiment videos will necessarily need a voiced script, but writing one will help you plan your content and the order things should occur. From there, you can use your script as a guide to plan your storyboard, which we’ve previously discussed here.
4. Acquire the right filming equipment for you
For National Science Week in 2020, I filmed an entire lab showcase video using just my trusty smartphone for my research group. The quality was so good that the university’s media team thought I had filmed it with a higher-end camera 😉. The lesson at the end of the day was that, sometimes, everything you need is right in your pocket.
So if you’ve got a smartphone, you’re set to start filming right away. Unless you’re specifically in the market for a fancy camera, the best equipment is often what you’ve got on hand. But of course, if you have a dedicated video camera or any other gizmos; we definitely encourage you to use those too.
If you have any of these handy, they’ll be very useful in the following scenarios:
Macro lenses: for close-up shots of tubes, hands, and other intricate details
Waterproof covers: for epic underwater shots (the marine biologists can get really creative with this!)
Drones: for aerial shots to showcase a large environment
Lapel microphones: to cleanly capture your voice if you’re speaking for A-roll footage
USB microphones: to narrate a voiceover over any B-roll footage
What is A-roll and B-roll?
A-roll and B-roll are two key elements in video creation. A-roll is your main footage, featuring the primary content you want to show, and often includes your voiceover. B-roll is the supplementary footage that adds context and visual interest, such as close-ups, scenery, or cutaways. While A-roll tells the main story, B-roll enriches it, making the video more engaging and dynamic. Using both together creates a more complete and captivating narrative.
Example
A-roll: You speaking to the camera explaining how to do an experiment.
B-roll: Close-ups of the experiment, overlaid on top of the A-roll.
And of course, if you’re performing any kind of data analysis, then screen-recording software like Loom, QuickTime, or ClipChamp will be very handy for these purposes.
5. It’s filming time!
When it’s time to start filming, you need to think about cinematography. Make sure each scene flows logically to the next, keeping your audience engaged. Use different camera angles and shots to add variety and interest, and refer to your storyboard as a guide. Ensure that you check your lighting before filming, test your audio, and vary your camera shots. Close-ups, wide shots, and over-the-shoulder perspectives can help to visually explain complex concepts and maintain viewer interest.
However if you’re creating a screen recording, you won’t need to worry about these different perspectives.
6. Edit for maximum impact!
Editing is where the magic happens by combining your A-roll and B-roll footage to create a dynamic and engaging video. Mix up perspectives to keep things interesting, and add narration to explain tricky parts clearly. Make sure your audience gets it, especially when showing off complex data. Use software available to you like iMovie for Mac, Microsoft Photos (previously called Windows Movie Maker), or for those aspiring to upskill: try out the industry-standard Adobe Premiere Pro. If you’re looking to tap into this epic software, I highly recommend checking out this beginner-friendly tutorial. But for me personally, there’s something incredible about learning by trial and error. So try out any software you have access to, and go experiment with the pacing, transitions, and overall flow to ensure your video is both informative and captivating!
Feeling like you’re ready to roll? Let’s kick it up a notch with one more incredible resource we’ve prepared for you! 👇
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