How to present science

The first few sentences of any presentation are the most crucial. This is when the audience forms their first impression: Will this be interesting? In the first moment of a talk they decide whether or not to keep paying attention, or drift off. But what is the best way to start a presentation? In this podcast you are provided with 3 simple to use techniques. For every technique you will hear multiple examples from other speakers to help illustrate and inspire you to craft your own!

Is using jargon giving you more status? Common advice suggests avoiding jargon during presentations, as it can make it harder for your audience to grasp the information. However, some speakers want to signal their expertise. They believe that a presentation lacking jargon may come across as too simplistic and may undermine their credibility. In this podcast, we will discuss the use and function of jargon, focusing on one key question: does it help you gain status?=== Sources used for this podcastLinkedIn-poll about status and jargon: https://l1nk.dev/oUH8e Article about people disliking complex language:https://neerlandistiek.nl/2022/12/hoger-opgeleiden-hechten-meer-aan-eenvoudige-teksten/Science paper: https://www.aup-online.com/content/journals/10.5117/TVT2022.2.002.MAAT#CIT0031Reading dies in complexity: Online news consumers prefer simple writinghttps://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adn2555The use of jargon kills people’s interest in science, politics:https://news.osu.edu/the-use-of-jargon-kills-peoples-interest-in-science-politics/ Jargon as a barrier to effective science communication: Evidence from metacognitionhttps://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0963662519865687?journalCode=pusa Problems with using long words needlessly:https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/acp.1178 Articles about the relationship between low status leads to more jargon:Authors from lower-status schools included more jargon in their poster titles:https://journals.aom.org/doi/abs/10.5465/AMPROC.2024.16568abstractArchival analyses found a low status → jargon effect across 64 k dissertation titles:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0749597820303666 

Every good story has a sudden moment of change. It is the most fundamental, important part of any good story. When done properly, this moment underlines the importance of your work. You are able to either inspire people with your message or warn them. For every message and for any kind of information you want to transfer there is a story. In this episode you learn the importance of the so-called ‘motoric moment’ to use storytelling effectively in your communication. Want to have a session with Marloes ten Kate to brainstorm about your own story? Go to www.scientificstorytelling.org and get in touch!

Learn how to craft science stories that truly resonate with your audience and align with your goals. You'll cover four essential steps: defining the purpose of your story, ensuring it has a clear key message, finding the right narrative flow, and drawing inspiration from real-life experiences. Through practical guidelines and examples, you'll learn to create compelling and educational narratives that achieve your communication objectives. Whether you're looking to engage the public, educate, or convince people of a certain message, this episode provides the tools you need to make your science stories impactful. More information: www.scientificstorytelling.org

Delve into the art of storytelling to make science more relatable by choosing the right main character. Discover how to choose the perfect main hero for your narrative. You will learn about the fun side and the potential pitfalls of using non-human entities, such as talking protons, opinionated plants or emotional machines. You may opt to portray yourself as the star of the show. Or go for the viewpoint of someone impacted by your research. Each option has different effects on your audience. Explore techniques for ensuring your science communication captivates and resonates with your audience.Audio examples:Once upon a time... Comet landing by European Space Agency (ESA): https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2015/03/Once_upon_a_time_Comet_landing LHC Noir - Symmetry presents: https://www.symmetrymagazine.org/article/lhc-noir 

A good summary is a very valuable part of every presentation. However, many (even seasoned) speakers provide summaries that are ineffective. In this episode, you will discover a common pitfall observed not only in presentations but also in many reports. Learn a simple technique to create high-quality summaries that serve your audience and make sure they retain the most important information. Using this technique can even enhance the overall quality and flow of your entire presentation.

As a scientist or science communicator it can be hard to explain your knowledge in a way everyone understands. Storytelling is a great tool to bridge this gap and connect with your audience. It allows you to make your research more accessible and relatable. But what exactly is storytelling? And how does it work when applied in science communication? This episode serves as an introduction to storytelling and offers you techniques that you can apply in your own communication.

It may sound like weird advice, but a great presentation actually starts with the end. The end of a talk usually is the conclusion or take-home message. By sharing that part already at the start, you are able to create a comprehensible narrative for your audience. In this episode, you will experience the difference it makes. Additionally, you will acquire a specific technique for crafting an effective opening, which can be applied to written communication as well. Not only does this method enhance comprehensibility and logical flow, but it also streamlines the preparation process, ultimately saving you valuable time when preparing a talk.