310 likes | 455 Views
The Art of Speaking Science. Structure of the Short Scientific Talk. I. Observation or Introduction to the Problem. II. History of Field or Background Information. III. Hypothesis or Objectives. IV. Methods of Study a. Techniques b. Experimental Design or Protocol.
E N D
Structure of the Short Scientific Talk I. Observation or Introduction to the Problem II. History of Field or Background Information III. Hypothesis or Objectives IV. Methods of Study a. Techniques b. Experimental Design or Protocol V. Results (4-6 slides) VI. Summary (state the findings) VII. Conclusions, Speculations and Plans
CHECK OUT THE ROOM IN ADVANCE • SIZE OF ROOM • PODIUM • POINTER • COMPUTER HOOKUP • MICROPHONE • SCREEN
Don't read the talk: speak to the audience Practice until fluent Look at the audience between slides Use note cards if uncertain Microphone mistakes
STUCK on WORDS • felt vs thought or believe • incidence vs prevalence • phenomenon(na) • parameter vs variable • constitute vs comprise (consist) • effects vs affects
Pointer Points place on a steady surface don't wave it turn it off
#1 Mistake in Science Talks: The Assumption That the Audience Knows What You are Talking About Assume the audience is as ignorant as you are Keep it Simple: Explain!
Introduction- Observation Keep it simple: engage the audience Sets up the rationale for study Abstract talks: the first slide reflects title Long talks: Historical basis of problem Current understanding Background information
Hypothesis • Must have one and be able to state it Objectives • Make no assumptions • Be specific
Methods of study • Tailor description to audience • Simplify • Explain methods • Explain abbreviations and jargon • Time line must be clear
Methods In order to measure isoprostanes, we first collected pig urine
Figures and Data Slides Declarative title Point to axes-describe 1 min per slide Speak to the slide Don’t over-interpret data Avoid tables!
Common Errors in Data Display and Graphing Indexing/Proportionality Scaling Readability Complexity Credibility
Summary After careful study, most investigators have concluded that tables generally stink as a way to portray information to an audience. Conclusion If you want to present a good talk, avoid tables.
Proportionality Problems: What is a Doubling? Radius = 1 Area = r2 Volume = r3 r = 2 Area = 4 Volume = 8 r = 1.26 Area = 1.6 Volume = 2 r = 1 Area = 1 Volume = 3
Pa Pressure Doubled After Endotoxin …. ………. … SBP 100 50 0 mmHg … …. ………. Ppa E TIME
Ppa Doubles After Endotoxin 30 20 10 0 Ppa E TIME
X Increased after Treatment .. .. … . …. … .. .. .. .. … .. 100 0 .. .. . . … .. . . . . . … X PRE POST
X Increased after Treatment 100 X 0 . . PRE POST
Substance P is a Potent Pressor 80 70 mmHg PRE POST
Substance P is a Mild Pressor 100 0 mmHg PRE POST
TGFb: Involvement in PPH Pathogenesis • Cell proliferation, • differentiation • Apoptosis • Morphogenesis • Organogenesis
Linkage & Disease Gene Hunting 2000+ Family Studies Chromosome Interval Candidate Genes Disease Mutation Met A A Met T T G G Val G G Val T T C C Ser T T Ser C C A A Leu C C Leu T T G G Gln C T A A A A Pro C C C C G G Cys T T G G T T Genes in Interval 1. ESTs, unidentied 2. ESTs, unidentied 3. ESTs, highly similar to patched [Drosophila melanogaster] 4. Phosphofructokinase (PFK) 5. BMPR2 Positional & Functional candidate for PPH 6. ESTs, unidentied 7. Deleted in pancreatic cancer 1 (DPC1) 8. ESTs, unidentied STOP * Genetic Mapping Computer Search Mutation Detection HGP
Summary: be concise • statement of facts • Conclusions: meaning or lesson • speculations • Problems and Plans: what is next • what to fix
Oh, yes: finally • you probably shouldn’t make every slide a different font and color