Melissa Marshall: Talk nerdy to me

Summary

In this talk, a communications teacher shares her experience teaching engineering students and highlights the importance of effective communication in science and engineering. She encourages scientists to simplify complex ideas, avoid jargon, and make their work accessible through relatable examples, stories, and visuals. By doing so, they can engage a wider audience and ensure their groundbreaking work is understood. The speaker emphasizes the need for relevance and passion, presenting a humorous 'equation' to illustrate how scientists can create meaningful interactions. The ultimate message: 'Talk nerdy to us.'

Takeaways

• 😀 Great communication is essential for scientists and engineers to share their ideas and change the world.
• 😲 Effective communication allows non-scientists to understand and appreciate complex concepts.
• 😎 Scientists and engineers should explain the relevance of their work to make it accessible and engaging.
• 📚 Avoid jargon and simplify language, without oversimplifying the science.
• 🔄 Use examples, stories, and analogies to make scientific ideas more relatable and exciting.
• 🚫 Bullet points in presentations can overwhelm the audience; use visuals and concise, clear sentences instead.
• 🧠 Presentations should stimulate multiple senses for better understanding, not rely solely on language.
• 🌉 Relating scientific structures (like trabeculae) to well-known designs (like the Eiffel Tower) enhances clarity.
• 💡 Scientists should subtract jargon and bullet points, divide by relevance, and multiply by passion to create impactful interactions.
• 🗣️ Scientists and engineers are encouraged to 'talk nerdy' by making their work interesting and understandable for everyone.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial reaction to being asked to teach a communications class for engineering students?

The speaker was scared, feeling intimidated by the students' intelligence, big books, and unfamiliar terminology.

What metaphor does the speaker use to describe her experience of talking to engineering students?

The speaker compares her experience to Alice in Wonderland, feeling as if she had entered a new, fascinating world through a door she hadn't noticed before.

Why does the speaker believe great communication from scientists and engineers is important?

The speaker believes great communication is crucial because scientists and engineers are addressing some of the world's biggest challenges, such as energy, the environment, and healthcare, and if the public doesn't understand their work, its impact is limited.

According to the speaker, whose responsibility is it to ensure meaningful interactions between scientists and non-scientists?

The speaker believes it is both the responsibility of scientists and engineers to invite the public into their world and the responsibility of non-scientists to engage in these interactions.

What is the first key suggestion the speaker offers to scientists and engineers for effective communication?

The speaker suggests that scientists and engineers should first answer the question 'So what?' by explaining why their work is relevant to the audience.

How does the speaker suggest scientists should handle technical jargon?

The speaker advises scientists to avoid jargon, as it can create a barrier to understanding. Instead, they should use simpler, more accessible language without oversimplifying their ideas.

What is the difference between simplifying an idea and dumbing it down, according to the speaker?

Simplifying an idea makes it more understandable to a broader audience, whereas dumbing it down strips away the essence of the idea. The speaker encourages simplification without losing the integrity of the concept.

What methods does the speaker recommend for engaging an audience when explaining complex scientific concepts?

The speaker recommends using examples, stories, and analogies to make scientific concepts more engaging and exciting.

Why does the speaker suggest avoiding bullet points in presentations?

The speaker argues that bullet points overwhelm the audience by overloading the language area of the brain and killing engagement, suggesting instead that presenters use visuals and readable sentences.

How does the speaker summarize her advice for effective communication using an equation?

The speaker’s equation is: Take your science, subtract bullet points and jargon, divide by relevance, and multiply by passion. This, she says, will lead to interactions full of understanding.