Giving a Great Science Talk: I. Vital Elements

1. Garrett Apuzen-Ito Dept. of Geology & Geophysics, SOEST, University of Hawaii Giving a Great Science Talk:I. Vital Elements Being an effective speaker is important: for anyone who has an opinion and cares if others to understand it & agree with it. for anyone who has an opinion and cares if others to understand it & agree with it. for anyone who has an opinion and cares if others to understand it & agree with it. for anyone whose work needs to communicated to others. In SCIENCE speaking--like publishing--is part of the process. Science is about making discoveries and telling the world about it.

2. Garrett Apuzen-Ito Dept. of Geology & Geophysics, SOEST, University of Hawaii AND BTW.... Giving a Great Science TalkI. Vital Elements Being an effective speaker is important: for anyone who has an opinion and cares if others to understand it & agree with it. for anyone whose work needs to communicated to others. In SCIENCE speaking--like publishing--is part of the process. Science is about making discoveries and telling the world about it. that was the “motivation” part of this talk.

3. Vitals & Key Ingredients3 Categories:I. Vital ElementsII. Mechanics of the PresentationIII. Speaker Performance

4. Today’s Message is on the I. Vitals Elements (This is my talk outline & that was the “Introduction”)

5. FIRST AND FOREMOST: Your purpose is to… Communicate,Convince, and Teach WMDs! I. Vitals Elements If your audience walks away understanding your main points, gains new appreciation for (or is convinced of) them, and remembers them, then you’ve done your job. It is essential that YOU know your main points. You should have 1-3 main points and no more. Now here’s the main point No matter how you do it (almost).

6. How Many Points Should You Make?

8. Generally … a “science-related” talk is organized as: • I. Motivate and Introduce the Topic/Points • II. Define Strategy and Concepts • III. Build Evidence, Points, & Ideas • IV. State Conclusions (1-3 main points) } Tell ‘em what your gonna tell ‘em } Tell them. } Tell ‘em what you told ‘em

9. A more formal science research talk specifies: • I. Motivate & Introduce the Scientific Questions, Problem, or Hypothesis, and Outline Your talk • II. Strategy, Methods &/or Data • III. Results and Interpretations • IV. Conclusions } Tell ‘em what your gonna tell ‘em } Tell them. } Tell ‘em what you told ‘em

10. This is the same format as a scientific paper

11. This is the same format as a scientific paper (This is my data)

12. This format follows from and communicates the Scientific Method: } I. Motivate, Introduce ScientceQuestions, Problem, or Hypothesis & Outline Talk II. Strategy/Methods/Data III. Results/Interpretations IV. Conclusions

13. This format represents a system of logical reasoning. An underlying thread along which your story progresses. } I. Motivate & Introduce Science Questions, Problem, or Hypothesis & Outline Talk II. Strategy/Methods/Data III. Results/Interpretations IV. Conclusions

14. I. Motivate & Introduce the Question, Problem, or Hypothesis, & Outline Your Talk (Communicate) 1st Your audience needs to know WHY your talk is work listening to. 2nd Your audience needs to know precisely what question, problem, or hypothesis your addressing 3rdOutline your talk. i.e., tell you’re audience what your going to tell them. “Tides are important because…” “The problem I’d like to address is…”

15. I. Motivate & Introduce the Question, Problem, Hypothesis & Outline II. Strategy, Methods &/or Data This is when the strategy is defined. The type of data and method of analysis is presented. The strategy had better be appropriate for addressing your question/problem/hypothesis “I will measure the level of high tide each day”

16. I. Motivate & Introduce the Question, Problem, or Hypothesis, & Outline. II. Data &/or Methods (aka Evidence & Information). III. Results and Interpretations (CONVINCE) Findings are presented. Graphs show trends of data or outcomes of analysis. Logic and reasoning is clearly spelled-out, and judgements are made about the significanc of the results. “Monday the tide covered the rock Tuesday it reached the tree Tomorrow…. Uhm, can you swim?”

17. I. Motivate & Introduce the Question, Problem, or Hypothesis, & Outline II. Data &/or Methods (aka Evidence & Information). III. Results and Interpretations IV. Conclusions (TEACH) Recap and clearly state your 1-3 points. “Got it??”

18. This structure and the theme you establish Transforms a random bunch of (albeit jewels of) information I. Motivate & Introduce the Science Questions, Problem, or Hypothesis, & Outline Talk II. Strategy/Methods/Data III. Results/Interpretations IV. Conclusions into a organized work of art. They are the thread that ties all the pieces together

19. Tell a Story. Take your Audience on an Adventure • Take your audience from a starting point (point A), • lead them step-by-step • along your journey of discovery to your conclusions (point B) I. Motivate & Introduce the Science Questions, Problem, or Hypothesis, & Outline Talk II. Strategy/Methods/Data III. Results/Interpretations IV. Conclusions B A

20. Tell a Story. Take your Audience on an Adventure • Take your audience from a starting point (point A), • lead them step-by-step • along your journey of discovery to your conclusions (point B) I. Motivate, Introduce, Outline II. Strategy & Concepts III. Evidence/Points/Ideas IV. Your conclusions B A

21. Giving a Great Science Talk I. Vital Elements I. Your purpose is to communicate, convince, and teach If your audience walks away understanding your main points, gains new appreciation for (or is convinced of) them, and remembers them, then you’ve done your job. II. The scientific format and theme you build brings your audience on a journey of scientific deduction and discovery I. Motivate, Introduce, Outline II. Strategy/Concepts III. Evidence/Points/Ideas IV. Your Conclusions Now here’s the main point