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Rule #1: Giving Talks

[Data collection fortnight ends today. And then we shall return to our regularly scheduled programming. Until then, here's Rule #1, from the archives.] If you are giving a talk, or teaching a class, or are otherwise responsible for transmitting content from your brain to other peoples’ brains, you should be able to give that talk [...]

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American



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[Data collection fortnight ends today. And then we shall return to our regularly scheduled programming. Until then, here's Rule #1, from the archives.]

If you are giving a talk, or teaching a class, or are otherwise responsible for transmitting content from your brain to other peoples' brains, you should be able to give that talk - even if somewhat modified - without any visual aids. You should be perfectly capable of giving that talk, in the dark, if the power goes out. Because your science is so awesome that your words alone will make people revere you like the science god or goddess that you are.

Jason G. Goldman is a science journalist based in Los Angeles. He has written about animal behavior, wildlife biology, conservation, and ecology for Scientific American, Los Angeles magazine, the Washington Post, the Guardian, the BBC, Conservation magazine, and elsewhere. He contributes to Scientific American's "60-Second Science" podcast, and is co-editor of Science Blogging: The Essential Guide (Yale University Press). He enjoys sharing his wildlife knowledge on television and on the radio, and often speaks to the public about wildlife and science communication.

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