The Burness Effect - Training

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.

Providing Context to Your Work: Pairing Your Research Findings with a Compelling Message

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

You’re More Interesting Than You Think

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.

Super Stories: The Hidden Link to What Makes Superbowl Sunday Great

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.

MLK’s “I Have a Dream”—Best Presentation Training

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.

Overheard in the Newsroom: A Reporter’s Plea for Patience

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.

Time to Change Scientists’ Job Descriptions…

Scientific and research institutions in the US and abroad are increasingly recognizing the importance of teaching scientists to communicate clearly and concisely to the public and other key audiences. Without this skill, science stays stuck in university laboratories never to be understood, or perhaps more importantly, appreciated for the value it brings to our society.

How Health Insurance Is Different than a Flat Screen TV

There was a discussion between two former solicitors general, Walter Dellinger and Paul Clement, about the recent court ruling that the provision in health reform requiring most Americans to buy health insurance is unconstitutional.

Documenting the Road to Recovery Using New Media

Dr. Elliot Krane, of the Lucille Packard Children's Hospital and Stanford University Medical School and a Mayday Pain & Society Fellow, has a goal to end children’s suffering from chronic pain. One of the biggest barriers to better care for kids in his pain clinic is the lack of coverage for the treatments that will make them well.

Failure to Advocate: Hazardous to Your Career

Scientists' voices are so often missing from the messages because of fear of crossing the lobbying line, because there is no incentive to raise a voice, or because someone else is advocating for them.