Science Communication Through Short-form Videos

The dissemination of scholarly research is critical, yet researchers often lack the time and skills to create engaging content for popular media like short-form videos. To bridge this gap, we explore the use of generative AI to help researchers transform their academic papers into accessible, short-form videos. Informed by our formative study (N=8) with science communicators and content creators, we designed PaperTok, an end-to-end system that generates an integrated first draft through automating the initial creative labor by generating script options and corresponding audiovisual content from a source paper. Then, the researcher refines based on their preferences with further prompting. A mixed-methods user study (N=18) and crowdsourced evaluation (N=100) demonstrate that PaperTok's workflow can help researchers create engaging and informative short-form videos. We also identified the need for more fine-grained controls in the creation process. To this end, we offer implications for future generative tools that support science outreach.

Examined credibility and the role of human input in AI-assisted science communication. Conducted interviews with science communicators and content creators, and usability studies with HCI researchers to understand how human involvement shapes trust and quality.

Members of the Prosocial Computing Lab with equal contribution