How to present science

When you’re presenting, it can feel like your audience is just a wall of motionless eyes, which can be pretty intimidating. You might want to avoid eye contact, but actually creating a genuine connection with your audience is more helpful to reduce your stress levels. In this episode, you’ll learn how to make your presentation feel more like a smooth, relaxed conversation. Whether you’re a beginne...

Do you dread the moment when stage fright takes over and your mind goes blank? This episode offers practical strategies to cope with the most stressful moment on stage: the start. Discover how a well-prepared start can set the tone for your entire presentation, learn why memorizing every word might actually work against you, and find out how to end with a strong punchline. These practical tips wil...

Do you feel nervous when presenting to an audience? Stage fright is a common experience, so you’re certainly not alone. The good news is that your nerves don’t have to hold you back. In fact, you can not only manage your anxiety but even learn to truly enjoy presenting! Discover essential mental and physical strategies to help you deal with those nerve-wracking moments and create an enjoyable expe...

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 multi...

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...

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 ‘...

Trying to reach "everyone" with your message can be counterproductive. While it’s tempting to create content for a broad audience, doing so can dilute your impact. Instead, discover the power of targeting specific stakeholders with tailored messages to ensure you reach the right people. Whether your goal is to inform, persuade, or inspire, this episode will help you communicate with greater precis...

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 t...

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 vie...

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...

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 storyt...

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 effec...

Before crafting your talk or writing, consider two questions first: What is there to gain for you? What is there to gain for your audience? There are multiple ways to think about this. Doing so will serve as a great guideline for you in designing your communication to achieve the desired results. Even taking just a few minutes to contemplate this will have a significant impact! More information: w...