Anni, this reminds me of one seminar I attended a few years ago. We had an audience who seemed to be somewhat distracted when the presenters were showing graphs and equations, or when they were requested to take part in "scientific" discussion.
One of the instructors saw they were lacking the interest, so she decided to try another approach the next day. And she started her tornado lecture , not startgin with the usual 500 hPa/CAPE/ingredients-based jargon, but said: "I will tell you a story". And she told them a story of a family who lost their house because of the tornado.
It worked - even I stopped checking my mobile and paid attention!