The Burness Effect Blog

The Daily Show Asks, What’s Science Up To?

The reality is many scientists are concerned about being a political talking point or a pawn in a larger cultural or political debate. The tragic outcome is that too many scientists use this as a reason to avoid engaging all together.

If the NIH can reduce years and years of amazing research into a few bullet points, you can do the same for your work, or your organization’s efforts.

Show Me the Infographics: Making Data Digestible

The infographic business is booming and that’s a good thing. At least for those of us who want to understand multifaceted issues such as the science process of stem cells or the complexities of health care policy.

TED Talks: Learning to Give Memorable Presentations

We often talk in our workshops about the need to be a student of the media to improve your interviewing skills. This holds true when it comes to improving your presentation skills as well—and TED.com is one of the best classrooms available.

Artfully Answering the Wrong Questions with the Right Answers

Robin Hanson asks in a recent post on her blog Overcomingbias, “Why is modest question evasion so often tolerated in TV and radio interviews?” Her question was sparked by a study in the Journal of Experimental Psychology’s April Issue that found that listeners often won’t notice discrepancies between the question that was asked and the answer that is delivered as long as it is done smoothly and confidently.

People often confuse their research findings with a “message.” To reach your audiences effectively, you need both.

Once I asked a pain expert, “why do you care about pain treatment so much?” The story that followed – about a dying girl writhing in pain who changed the course of his medical career - silenced the room. And then It became the lead to an opinion editorial he published soon after in Toronto’s Globe and Mail. More leaders need to open up and share what drives them day in and day out.

No matter where your allegiance lies, there’s more to the Superbowl than the game itself. Ever notice the hours of storytelling that lead up to the game? They’re stories about the history of the teams, background of the coaches, growing pains and successes from the star players, celebrity fans weighing in—all told to lure you in and hold your attention. This is like anything else. Stories make people feel invested.

Great summation of what makes a great presentation…Nancy Duarte outlines the key tips of how to do it using the masterful communicator Martin Luther King.

A colleague sent over this post from The New York Times' Dot Earth blog. As she pointed out, it echoes what we've heard from reporters who have been dismissed by impatient scientists for not being well-versed in a specific topic.