Wow! eBook
Presenting Science: A practical guide to giving a good talk
Author(s): Cigdem Issever (Author), Ken Peach (Contributor)
- Publisher: Oxford University Press, U.S.A.
- Publication Date: 22 Feb. 2010
- Edition: Illustrated
- Language: English
- Print length: 136 pages
- ISBN-10: 0199549095
- ISBN-13: 9780199549092
Book Description
Giving a talk’ is one of the most important ways in which we communicate our research. The ‘talk’ covers everything from a ten-minute briefing on progress to a handful of colleagues, to a keynote address to a major international conference with more than a thousand delegates. Whatever the occasion, the aim is the same – to get the message across clearly and effectively. At the same time, presentational skills are becoming more important in all walks of life – and presenting science has particular issues. Our aim is to equip the reader with the basic skills needed to make a good presentation, and our approach is pragmatic, not dogmatic. We emphasise four points: – The goal is to communicate the science to the audience. – The speaker is responsible for everything that appears, and does not appear, on each slide. – The structure and appearance of the presentation are part of the communication process. – There is no standard way of doing things. Giving a good talk on science is a skill that can be learnt like any other: in this book we take the reader through the process of presenting science to a wide variety of audiences.
Editorial Reviews
Review
Issever and Peach deserve high praise not only for producing this book, but also for recognizing that communication skills are important enough to be taught to science students: their book is based on a course they deliver at the University of Oxford. ― CERN Courier
Even if you don’t struggle with presentations, this book will help you get better and that’s never a bad thing. […] The writing is informative, friendly and fuss-free. It covers every aspect of presenting – from informal meetings to project/grant proposals and conferences. It gives nice little quotes and relevant examples as food for thought throughout. Most importantly, it gives definitive advice on what makes a good (or bad) PowerPoint slide. ―
Times Higher Education SupplementIt does offer many valuable pointers to help the reader objectively prepare and deliver presentations, develop the necessary soft skills and find the style that works for them. ―
Chemistry WorldAbout the Author
After completing her Ph.D. in Dortmund, Germany, Cigdem Issever worked as a Post-doctoral researcher at University of California Santa Barbara, and as a Departmental Lecturer at the University of Oxford before being appointed University Research Lecturer in 2007 with the University of Oxford. After completing his Ph.D. in Edinburgh, Ken Peach worked as a University Demonstrator, Post-doctoral researcher, S.E.R.C. Advanced Fellow and Research Officer at Edinburgh before being appointed Reader in 1992. In 1996 he was awarded a Personal Chair in Particle Physics Experiments, and moved to C.E.R.N. as Deputy Leader of the Particle Physics Experiments Division, C.E.R.N. . Two years later, he became Director of Particle Physics at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire, and in 2004 also assumed responsibility as Director of e-Science. In 2005, he moved to the University of Oxford and Royal Holloway University of London, as Director of the John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science.
