Bringing the Awesomeness of Astronomy to Everyone: How to give a - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Bringing the Awesomeness of Astronomy to Everyone: How to give a great public talk t i f o r p d n a n u f r o f Rachael Livermore Why give public talks? Why give public talks? Lots of research is taxpayer-funded Why give

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Bringing the Awesomeness of Astronomy to Everyone:

How to give a great public talk

Rachael Livermore

f

  • r

f u n a n d p r

  • f

i t

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Why give public talks?

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Why give public talks?

  • Lots of research is taxpayer-funded
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Why give public talks?

  • Lots of research is taxpayer-funded
  • Scientific illiteracy is a real threat
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Why give public talks?

  • Lots of research is taxpayer-funded
  • Scientific illiteracy is a real threat
  • It reinforces your own knowledge about your field
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Why give public talks?

  • Lots of research is taxpayer-funded
  • Scientific illiteracy is a real threat
  • It reinforces your own knowledge about your field
  • It’s fun!
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Points to consider when giving public talks

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Points to consider when giving public talks

  • Science content
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Points to consider when giving public talks

  • Science content
  • Interacting with your audience
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SLIDE 10

Points to consider when giving public talks

  • Science content
  • Interacting with your audience
  • The Q&A
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Points to consider when giving public talks

  • Science content
  • Interacting with your audience
  • The Q&A
  • General presentation habits (apply to research talks

too!)

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SLIDE 12

Science content

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Science content

  • You cannot underestimate your audience’s

background knowledge!

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Actual questions from public talks

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Actual questions from public talks

  • “Where does the Sun go at night?”
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Actual questions from public talks

  • “Where does the Sun go at night?”
  • 50-something
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Actual questions from public talks

  • “Where does the Sun go at night?”
  • 50-something
  • “Wait, so does it go planet - galaxy - Universe - star? Or planet - star - Universe - galaxy?”
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Actual questions from public talks

  • “Where does the Sun go at night?”
  • 50-something
  • “Wait, so does it go planet - galaxy - Universe - star? Or planet - star - Universe - galaxy?”
  • 30-something
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Actual questions from public talks

  • “Where does the Sun go at night?”
  • 50-something
  • “Wait, so does it go planet - galaxy - Universe - star? Or planet - star - Universe - galaxy?”
  • 30-something
  • “If gravity keeps the Moon around the Earth, and the Earth around the Sun, is the Sun also
  • rbiting the centre of the Milky Way?”
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SLIDE 20

Actual questions from public talks

  • “Where does the Sun go at night?”
  • 50-something
  • “Wait, so does it go planet - galaxy - Universe - star? Or planet - star - Universe - galaxy?”
  • 30-something
  • “If gravity keeps the Moon around the Earth, and the Earth around the Sun, is the Sun also
  • rbiting the centre of the Milky Way?”
  • 6 year-old
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SLIDE 21

Actual questions from public talks

  • “Where does the Sun go at night?”
  • 50-something
  • “Wait, so does it go planet - galaxy - Universe - star? Or planet - star - Universe - galaxy?”
  • 30-something
  • “If gravity keeps the Moon around the Earth, and the Earth around the Sun, is the Sun also
  • rbiting the centre of the Milky Way?”
  • 6 year-old
  • “Where did the Big Bang happen?”
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SLIDE 22

Actual questions from public talks

  • “Where does the Sun go at night?”
  • 50-something
  • “Wait, so does it go planet - galaxy - Universe - star? Or planet - star - Universe - galaxy?”
  • 30-something
  • “If gravity keeps the Moon around the Earth, and the Earth around the Sun, is the Sun also
  • rbiting the centre of the Milky Way?”
  • 6 year-old
  • “Where did the Big Bang happen?”
  • everyone
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SLIDE 23

Actual questions from public talks

  • “Where does the Sun go at night?”
  • 50-something
  • “Wait, so does it go planet - galaxy - Universe - star? Or planet - star - Universe - galaxy?”
  • 30-something
  • “If gravity keeps the Moon around the Earth, and the Earth around the Sun, is the Sun also
  • rbiting the centre of the Milky Way?”
  • 6 year-old
  • “Where did the Big Bang happen?”
  • everyone

(See also: “What came before the Big Bang?” “What is the Universe expanding into?”

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Science content

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Science content

  • You cannot underestimate your audience’s background

knowledge!

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Science content

  • You cannot underestimate your audience’s background

knowledge!

  • Not understanding is FAR more boring than hearing things

you already know!

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Science content

  • You cannot underestimate your audience’s background

knowledge!

  • Not understanding is FAR more boring than hearing things

you already know!

  • Repeat, repeat, repeat!
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Science content

  • You cannot underestimate your audience’s background

knowledge!

  • Not understanding is FAR more boring than hearing things

you already know!

  • Repeat, repeat, repeat!
  • Use analogies to convey ideas about scale
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SLIDE 29

Science content

  • You cannot underestimate your audience’s background

knowledge!

  • Not understanding is FAR more boring than hearing things

you already know!

  • Repeat, repeat, repeat!
  • Use analogies to convey ideas about scale
  • Try to form a story, rather than a deluge of facts
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Science content

  • You cannot underestimate your audience’s background

knowledge!

  • Not understanding is FAR more boring than hearing things

you already know!

  • Repeat, repeat, repeat!
  • Use analogies to convey ideas about scale
  • Try to form a story, rather than a deluge of facts
  • Memorise your take-home message
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Using plots in talks

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Using plots in talks

WTF?!

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Using plots in talks

WTF?!

(No offense to Alice Danielson, who includes a perfectly reasonable explanation of this plot in her caption)

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Using plots in talks

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Using plots in talks

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Using plots in talks

constant speed

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Using plots in talks

constant speed

f a s t e r

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Using plots in talks

constant speed

f a s t e r s l

  • w

e r

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Using plots in talks

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Using plots in talks

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Using plots in talks

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Interacting with your audience

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Interacting with your audience

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Interacting with your audience

  • Be confident (pretend!)
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Interacting with your audience

  • Be confident (pretend!)
  • If possible, film yourself and watch for annoying habits
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Interacting with your audience

  • Be confident (pretend!)
  • If possible, film yourself and watch for annoying habits
  • Consider how you present yourself
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Interacting with your audience

  • Be confident (pretend!)
  • If possible, film yourself and watch for annoying habits
  • Consider how you present yourself
  • Watch for reactions
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Interacting with your audience

  • Be confident (pretend!)
  • If possible, film yourself and watch for annoying habits
  • Consider how you present yourself
  • Watch for reactions
  • Remember people have given up time (and money?) to

hear you speak

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Types of audiences

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Types of audiences

  • General public
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Types of audiences

  • General public
  • assume no science background
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Types of audiences

  • General public
  • assume no science background
  • Astronomy or science-themed event, e.g. star party, science fiction convention
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Types of audiences

  • General public
  • assume no science background
  • Astronomy or science-themed event, e.g. star party, science fiction convention
  • Self-selected, but don’t assume science training
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Types of audiences

  • General public
  • assume no science background
  • Astronomy or science-themed event, e.g. star party, science fiction convention
  • Self-selected, but don’t assume science training
  • School groups
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Types of audiences

  • General public
  • assume no science background
  • Astronomy or science-themed event, e.g. star party, science fiction convention
  • Self-selected, but don’t assume science training
  • School groups
  • can actually be more technical - children are more accustomed to

hearing new information?

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Types of audiences

  • General public
  • assume no science background
  • Astronomy or science-themed event, e.g. star party, science fiction convention
  • Self-selected, but don’t assume science training
  • School groups
  • can actually be more technical - children are more accustomed to

hearing new information?

  • Amateur astronomical societies
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SLIDE 57

Types of audiences

  • General public
  • assume no science background
  • Astronomy or science-themed event, e.g. star party, science fiction convention
  • Self-selected, but don’t assume science training
  • School groups
  • can actually be more technical - children are more accustomed to

hearing new information?

  • Amateur astronomical societies
  • Another self-selected group. Range in backgrounds can be HUGE.
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The Q&A

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The Q&A

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The Q&A

  • Remember you know more than the audience
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The Q&A

  • Remember you know more than the audience
  • Allow LOTS of time
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The Q&A

  • Remember you know more than the audience
  • Allow LOTS of time
  • Expect completely unrelated questions
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The Q&A

  • Remember you know more than the audience
  • Allow LOTS of time
  • Expect completely unrelated questions
  • Don’t be afraid to say you don’t know
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The Q&A

  • Remember you know more than the audience
  • Allow LOTS of time
  • Expect completely unrelated questions
  • Don’t be afraid to say you don’t know
  • But memorize useful scales/ analogies, answers to

common questions, etc.

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General Presentation Habits

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General presentation habits

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General presentation habits

  • Keep all fonts > 20pt
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General presentation habits

  • Keep all fonts > 20pt
  • Large blocks of text like this are difficult to read, and will distract the

audience when they should be watching you. Chances are they will jump ahead of you (reading is faster than talking!) and therefore zone out of what you’re saying. Use the slides to help you demonstrate your points, not to tell the entire story. This is a talk, not a paper!

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General presentation habits

  • Keep all fonts > 20pt
  • Large blocks of text like this are difficult to read, and will distract the

audience when they should be watching you. Chances are they will jump ahead of you (reading is faster than talking!) and therefore zone out of what you’re saying. Use the slides to help you demonstrate your points, not to tell the entire story. This is a talk, not a paper!

  • Sans serif fonts (Arial, Helvetica) are easier to read at a distance than serif

fonts like Times New Roman

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General presentation habits

  • Keep all fonts > 20pt
  • Large blocks of text like this are difficult to read, and will distract the

audience when they should be watching you. Chances are they will jump ahead of you (reading is faster than talking!) and therefore zone out of what you’re saying. Use the slides to help you demonstrate your points, not to tell the entire story. This is a talk, not a paper!

  • Sans serif fonts (Arial, Helvetica) are easier to read at a distance than serif

fonts like Times New Roman

  • Use contents, summary and transition slides to break up content
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General presentation habits

  • Keep all fonts > 20pt
  • Large blocks of text like this are difficult to read, and will distract the

audience when they should be watching you. Chances are they will jump ahead of you (reading is faster than talking!) and therefore zone out of what you’re saying. Use the slides to help you demonstrate your points, not to tell the entire story. This is a talk, not a paper!

  • Sans serif fonts (Arial, Helvetica) are easier to read at a distance than serif

fonts like Times New Roman

  • Use contents, summary and transition slides to break up content
  • On color choice: I usually prefer dark text on light background, BUT…
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Ptolemy, ¡100-­‑170 ¡AD

…“the natural motion of the Earth ….is towards the center of the universe; that is the reason it is now lying at the center.”


Aristotle, On the Heavens

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General relativity is a metric theory of gravitation. At its core are Einstein's equations, which describe the relation between the geometry of a four-dimensional, pseudo-Riemannian manifold representing spacetime, and the energy–momentum contained in that spacetime. Phenomena that in classical mechanics are ascribed to the action of the force of gravity (such as free-fall, orbital motion, and spacecraft trajectories), correspond to inertial motion within a curved geometry of spacetime in general relativity; there is no gravitational force deflecting objects from their natural, straight paths. Instead, gravity corresponds to changes in the properties of space and time, which in turn changes the straightest-possible paths that

  • bjects will naturally follow. The curvature is, in turn, caused by the energy–momentum of matter.

Paraphrasing the relativist John Archibald Wheeler, spacetime tells matter how to move; matter tells spacetime how to curve.

  • While general relativity replaces the scalar gravitational potential of classical physics by a symmetric rank-

two tensor, the latter reduces to the former in certain limiting cases. For weak gravitational fields and slow speed relative to the speed of light, the theory's predictions converge on those of Newton's law of universal gravitation.

  • As it is constructed using tensors, general relativity exhibits general covariance: its laws—and further laws

formulated within the general relativistic framework—take on the same form in all coordinate systems. Furthermore, the theory does not contain any invariant geometric background structures, i.e. it is background independent. It thus satisfies a more stringent general principle of relativity, namely that the laws of physics are the same for all observers. Locally, as expressed in the equivalence principle, spacetime is Minkowskian, and the laws of physics exhibit local Lorentz invariance.

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Everything about this slide is terrible

General relativity is a metric theory of gravitation. At its core are Einstein's equations, which describe the relation between the geometry of a four-dimensional, pseudo-Riemannian manifold representing spacetime, and the energy–momentum contained in that spacetime. Phenomena that in classical mechanics are ascribed to the action of the force of gravity (such as free-fall, orbital motion, and spacecraft trajectories), correspond to inertial motion within a curved geometry of spacetime in general relativity; there is no gravitational force deflecting objects from their natural, straight paths. Instead, gravity corresponds to changes in the properties of space and time, which in turn changes the straightest-possible paths that

  • bjects will naturally follow. The curvature is, in turn, caused by the energy–momentum of matter.

Paraphrasing the relativist John Archibald Wheeler, spacetime tells matter how to move; matter tells spacetime how to curve.

  • While general relativity replaces the scalar gravitational potential of classical physics by a symmetric rank-

two tensor, the latter reduces to the former in certain limiting cases. For weak gravitational fields and slow speed relative to the speed of light, the theory's predictions converge on those of Newton's law of universal gravitation.

  • As it is constructed using tensors, general relativity exhibits general covariance: its laws—and further laws

formulated within the general relativistic framework—take on the same form in all coordinate systems. Furthermore, the theory does not contain any invariant geometric background structures, i.e. it is background independent. It thus satisfies a more stringent general principle of relativity, namely that the laws of physics are the same for all observers. Locally, as expressed in the equivalence principle, spacetime is Minkowskian, and the laws of physics exhibit local Lorentz invariance.

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General presentation habits

  • Use graphics! Just don’t make them distracting

Credit: NASA/ESA

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Tools for making shiny movies

  • mencoder - command line tool to convert images into

movie

  • Celestia - lots of built-in astronomical images, can

script your own flight paths

  • Blender - good for custom animations
  • Partiview - excellent for fly-throughs
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Tools for making shiny movies

  • mencoder - command line tool to convert images into

movie

  • Celestia - lots of built-in astronomical images, can

script your own flight paths

  • Blender - good for custom animations
  • Partiview - excellent for fly-throughs
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Tools for making shiny movies

  • mencoder - command line tool to convert images into

movie

  • Celestia - lots of built-in astronomical images, can

script your own flight paths

  • Blender - good for custom animations
  • Partiview - excellent for fly-throughs
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SLIDE 88
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SLIDE 89
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SLIDE 90

Tools for making shiny movies

  • mencoder - command line tool to convert images into

movie

  • Celestia - lots of built-in astronomical images, can

script your own flight paths

  • Blender - good for custom animations
  • Partiview - excellent for fly-throughs
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SLIDE 93

Summary

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Summary

  • Give public talks! They’re great!
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Summary

  • Give public talks! They’re great!
  • Assume NO prior knowledge
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Summary

  • Give public talks! They’re great!
  • Assume NO prior knowledge
  • Watch your audience
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Summary

  • Give public talks! They’re great!
  • Assume NO prior knowledge
  • Watch your audience
  • Prepare quick answers for the Q&A
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Summary

  • Give public talks! They’re great!
  • Assume NO prior knowledge
  • Watch your audience
  • Prepare quick answers for the Q&A
  • Make your slides engaging and easy to read (do what I

say, not what I do)

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Summary

  • Give public talks! They’re great!
  • Assume NO prior knowledge
  • Watch your audience
  • Prepare quick answers for the Q&A
  • Make your slides engaging and easy to read (do what I

say, not what I do)

  • What is your take-home message?