BioTinkering on TikTok

Organization: The Tech Interactive (in-house project)
Duration: December 2019 - June 2021

The BioTinkering Lab at The Tech Interactive is a one-of-a-kind playground where biology, design, and technology intersect. Imagine pondering questions like, "Could this bottle of kombucha be transformed into wearable fabric?" It's that kind of place. Our goal was to extend the lab's magic to a global audience via TikTok. The videos we produced did more than just educate and inspire; they also provided key metrics that helped secure additional grant funding. This financial boost enables the physical lab to keep innovating and prototyping new experiences.

4,000,000+

views

20%

engagement rate

41K

saves

“Sierra and Maria were able to capture and bottle up the magic of our quirky yet technically complex in-person Biotinkering Lab activities and turn them into social media sensations. This dramatically changed the reach of our museum work and allowed us to expand our impact to entirely new audiences that we hadn’t yet even imagined. The Biotinkering Lab’s expanded social media strategy and skillful execution of content provided my team with invaluable metrics for both current funders and future proposals.”

— Anja Scholze PhD, previous program manager of the BioTinkering Lab

Our Strategy

  • We transformed educational guides into engaging video scripts and used the scientific process to experiment with different video formats, from straightforward explainers to ASMR tutorials.

  • We kept the lines of communication open through the comment section. Here, we answered questions, engaged in silly interactions and even incorporated audience suggestions into new content.

  • Our videos focused on inspiring curiosity, fostering critical thinking, and encouraging at-home experimentation in line with The Tech's learning goals.

Key Takeaways

  • Audience engagement is highest when content is experimental and interactive.

  • Open communication with the audience can provide valuable insights for future content.

  • Aligning social media strategy with a client's educational goals can lead to meaningful, measurable impact.