Do you struggle to clearly communicate your research to broader audiences, reviewers, or collaborators? Join us for a university-wide training session with Randy Olson, PhD on the ABT (And, But, Therefore) Framework — a simple, powerful tool used by scientists, communicators, and policymakers worldwide to make complex ideas clear and compelling.
In this interactive workshop, you will build your own ABT with live coaching from Randy and his team, learning how to strengthen your grant proposals, manuscript abstracts, presentations, and everyday scientific communication.
About Randy Olson
Randy Olson trained as a marine biologist (PhD, Harvard; faculty, University of New Hampshire) before leaving academia for filmmaking at the University of Southern California. He created the ABT Framework, a narrative structure drawn from Hollywood storytelling now widely used across the sciences, and is the author of Houston, We Have a Narrative and The Narrative Gym. He has worked with NASA, the National Academies of Sciences, and research institutions worldwide.
Build Your ABT Workshops
Whether you are a graduate student, postdoctoral fellow, faculty member, or staff researcher, this training gives you a practical, immediately applicable tool to sharpen how you tell the story of your science.
Please note: You can choose whether to actively engage in workshopping your ABT as a participant or witness progression of other’s scientific communication as an observer. Participants will be assigned prior to the start of the workshop and are required to attend in-person.
These sessions teach the same ABT method; Select the time that works best for your schedule. Registration is required (further below).
- Session 1 – Sep. 22, 2026, 2 – 4 p.m.
- Seminar Rooms A/B, EPNEC; Zoom option available
- Add to: Google Calendar | Outlook | iCal File
- Session 2 – Sep. 23, 2026, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Seminar Rooms A/B, EPNEC; Zoom option available
- Lunch will be served during the 9/23 workshop
- Add to: Google Calendar | Outlook | iCal File
Event details
Hosted by Jay Piccirillo, MD, FACS, the TL1 Program, and the R25 Program, in partnership with the Center for Health & Science Communication at Becker Library.
- For questions, contact Adisa Kalkan at adisakalkan@wustl.edu
- Learn more about the series ABT (And, But, Therefore) Narrative Framework Training with Randy Olson, PhD