Speaking about Science

The authors, Scott Morgan and Barrett Whitener, are professional public speakers and write from their extensive experience teaching speaking skills to scientists and medical researchers at the National Institutes of Health and in the private sector. The 7-step process they have designed is guaranteed to help readers become better speakers.

• Introduction; 1. The basic problem with oral presentations - and its solution: writing vs. speaking, presentation structure: the hour glass format; 2. The first steps of preparation: finding the take home message, identifying the main question; 3. Selecting helpful images: the 'money slide', supporting slides, good slide, bad slide; 4. Beginning and ending the presentation: common ground, the place to start, the complete introduction, danger: introductory slides ahead, wrapping it up; 5. Titling the talk; 6. Delivery: stage fright, teaching vs. lecturing, three steps for presenting data, the mechanics of being heard, accents and mannerisms, what to rehearse; 7. Fielding questions: laying the groundwork for Q & A, Q & A basics, worst-case scenarios; 8. The job interview: what they will ask, radio science; 9. The media interview: the basics, getting ready, television interviews, follow-up; 10. Making clear posters: organizing a poster, conducting the session; 11. In closing; Appendices.

'As a quick refresher for the experienced, or a primer for the uninitiated, this is a really useful book.' Chemistry World