With a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering and more than 12 years of experience as a science communicator, I'm an expert at helping scientists tell their science stories. If you're looking to become a more confident communicator of science, check out my newsletter!
Issue 15 - The Beauty of Constraints
Hi, Reader! Since I was asked a few weeks ago to prepare a five-minute, no-slides talk for Fellows of the Royal Society, I've had constraints on the brain. I feel like we scientists and engineers love to complain about time limits and word counts and just not having enough space for our voices and ideas. But the more I thought about constraints in other contexts, like art, the more I realized that constraints are, in fact, a good thing to have. And not just for the audience or conference organizers, either; constraints are good for you, the communicator.
So this issue looks at constraints in two ways: in my specific talk and in general as a method to promote creativity and master skills. Let me know what you think. Do you like having constraints or would you rather ramble at length?
Preparing a Five-Minute Talk
"If you want me to speak for two minutes, it will take me three weeks of preparation. If you want me to speak for thirty minutes, it will take me a week to prepare. If you want me to speak for an hour, I am ready now." Just what does preparing a short talk look like?
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The Beauty of Constraints
We love to complain about having too little time and too few words to work with, but, in reality, constraints can stimulate creativity and help us practice and master new skills.
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From Around the Web
- How to outline - Here's a handy exercise intended to guide students through a solid outlining process before they write.
- Your nonacademic career is not a consolation prize - I suspect there are a few students (and non-students!) out there who need to hear this.
From the Archives
If you'd like to learn more about the Boston Molasses Flood (the topic for my five-minute talk mentioned above), check out the video I made for the centennial anniversary of the Flood.
| Watch It Here |
That's it for now! I'll see you again in two weeks with more scicomm tips, tricks, and inspiration. - Nicole
Nicole Sharp, Ph.D.
With a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering and more than 12 years of experience as a science communicator, I'm an expert at helping scientists tell their science stories. If you're looking to become a more confident communicator of science, check out my newsletter!
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Hi, Reader! Whether you like them or loathe them, we all have to deal with time and word limits at some point. In this issue, I take a look at the questions you should ask yourself anytime you're operating with one of these constraints. And because we all sometimes have budget constraints, too, I share some of my secrets for finding free, royalty-free images, video footage, music, and sound effects. I hope they'll help you dress up your presentations, videos, and research posters without...
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