Why I needed this course
As a PhD student it is easy to get tunnel vision of your niche subject area and forget how to share it with the world. From the moment I arrived at this course it was clear that Susie Emmett wanted to break down this wall of jargon and ‘grey words’ that are so common in the scientific community. My PhD is funded through TMAF so it is especially important that my research is in a language that can be understood by everybody, especially the farmers that soil research directly concerns.
Top tips for presenting
My main takeaway from the Green Shoots communication course was how to present to audiences in a concise yet interesting way.
Presentation tips I picked up:
- Questions before starting – What’s the point? Who is the audience? Am I the right person to present to them? How long have I got and where? What’s my message/key points?
- Introduction – you are pleased to present, make that clear straightaway!
- Using props – print/laminate slides, bring objects you care about
- Body language – work the room with eye contact, open body language, moving to different spots
- Clear and concise – no ‘grey words’, fewer words on slides the better
- Questions/Interacting with the audience – ask the audience closed questions, e.g ‘show of hands. Follow up with open questions if appropriate
- Summing up – there must be a clear takeaway message. Be open and available for questions at the end.
Ending on a high
The 3 day training course ended with a range of media skills, giving us a chance to take pictures and film at the beautiful Madingley hall, coated in January frost. This course threw me in the deep-end, and I have come away with a range of communication and media skills that I am excited to flaunt for the remainder of my PhD and working career.
