1. 30-Mar-2009 Lijiang-Panda2009 RAMJW1 Good Talks for Everyone Ralph Wijers Astronomical Institute `Anton Pannekoek’ University of Amsterdam

2. 30-Mar-2009 Lijiang-Panda2009 RAMJW2 Overview  Preparation  Content and goals in relation to type of talk  Presentation (main focus)  Final comments

3. 30-Mar-2009 Lijiang-Panda2009 RAMJW3 Conclusions  Prepare Prepare Prepare!!  Limitation marks the true master - less=more  Communication is the goal  Anyone can give competent/OK talk - by avoiding common mistakes

4. 30-Mar-2009 Lijiang-Panda2009 RAMJW4 PREPARATION

5. 30-Mar-2009 Lijiang-Panda2009 RAMJW5 Preparation  Who are your audience? –What do they know? –What do they need/want to learn?  How much time do you have? Time it!!!  What is your main point? –Make that point at least 3 times

6. 30-Mar-2009 Lijiang-Panda2009 RAMJW6 Preparation - 2  Practice!  Look at your slides from the back of room with a bad projector  Time your talk  Speak slowly and articulate well –Almost nobody is a native speaker –All versions of broken English are different

7. 30-Mar-2009 Lijiang-Panda2009 RAMJW7 CONTENT & GOALS

8. 30-Mar-2009 Lijiang-Panda2009 RAMJW8 Types of talk  Colloquium, Plenary talk at large meeting –1 hour, general audience, MSc level –Give intro on context and broad implications of topic, with reminder of basics, NOT just your own work  Seminar –1 hour, more expert audience, PhD level (?) –Not much context, more technical, BUT explain well –Usually mostly your own work, with context

9. 30-Mar-2009 Lijiang-Panda2009 RAMJW9 Types of talk 2  Review at specialist meeting –Usually 25-40min, moderately expert audience –NOT just your own work, overview/issues  Contributed talk at meeting –Usually 15min, moderately expert audience –Just your own work, mostly advertise –Make one point well  Gong/poster talk –Usually 1-5min, only advertise poster (!)

10. 30-Mar-2009 Lijiang-Panda2009 RAMJW10 Goals  Your main goals: –Teach your audience something –Advertise your work (indirectly yourself) It IS an item on your CV, getting invited is an achievement So: important for your career, but now you need to do well! –Would you ask yourself back?

11. 30-Mar-2009 Lijiang-Panda2009 RAMJW11 Content  Your content: –It is hard to underestimate your audience (not an insult! We all forget....) –For each thing you put in, ask ‘Why?’ –‘10% inspiration, 90% perspiration [sweat!]’

12. 30-Mar-2009 Lijiang-Panda2009 RAMJW12 Structure of talk  Introduce yourself! And your co-workers  Start with overview, and conclusion  Introduce the topic  Build your case  End with clear conclusions

13. 30-Mar-2009 Lijiang-Panda2009 RAMJW13 Equations My latest key result:  t  0 1 dx  d  e i(  t-kx) f(ax,gt)C 23 (t-t’)[a † (t’)b(x)]= b(t’)  (x-ct) + h.o.t....... Really?

14. 30-Mar-2009 Lijiang-Panda2009 RAMJW14 Equations  I(x,y) =...... =...... cst.|x-y|  Now explain –why this makes life simple – why is it important – what does it imply? .... And explain it patiently!

15. 30-Mar-2009 Lijiang-Panda2009 RAMJW15 PRESENTATION

16. 30-Mar-2009 Lijiang-Panda2009 RAMJW16 Hard part, easy part  Hard part: demeanor, attitude  Easy part: make good slides (but....)

17. 30-Mar-2009 Lijiang-Panda2009 RAMJW17 Hard part: stage wisdom  Speak: –Slowly and with tone variation, articulate –Show interest and enthusiasm –Make eye contact with audience  Gesture: –Try not to be static, use hands and eyes –Don’t be too restless, either –Dress: can help This takes practice, experience, confidence

18. 30-Mar-2009 Lijiang-Panda2009 RAMJW18 ‘Easy’ part: good slides  Always test all your slides  Do not use too many slides –~1/minute is maximum, unless unusually simple  Make sure everything on slide readable  Keep it simple  And now some illustrations

19. 30-Mar-2009 Lijiang-Panda2009 RAMJW19 Introduction to supernovae  Supernovae were first reported by the Chinese and Koreans in their reports of observations of the heavens  We now know they happen about once or twice per century in the Galaxy, but many are missed due to extinction  They result from the deaths of massive stars, probably with the lower mass limit for a supernova being 8-10 Msun  There are a number of types of supernova, classified on the basis of their spectra, which it turns out also points to different origins or explosion mechanisms

20. 30-Mar-2009 Lijiang-Panda2009 RAMJW20 Introduction to supernovae  First reports: Chinese and Koreans  Rate: 1-2/century in Galaxy  Death of stars above 8-10 Msun  Different spectral types, different origins It is called ‘talk’ for a reason...

21. 30-Mar-2009 Lijiang-Panda2009 RAMJW21 About bad color choices Good colour Bad color Good colour Bad color Bad or good colour? Bad color Bad color Good colour Bad color...... bad bad!@!

22. 30-Mar-2009 Lijiang-Panda2009 RAMJW22 Fancy Backgrounds  Can be just wonderful  But can you read all this text?

23. 30-Mar-2009 Lijiang-Panda2009 RAMJW23 Fancy Backgrounds 2  What sometimes helps is to darken/lighten the picture  Can you now read all this text?

24. 30-Mar-2009 Lijiang-Panda2009 RAMJW24 The Circus Slide EMPHASIZE  Uses many different fonts, colours, and pictures to EMPHASIZE things I did say circus, didn’t I?! Tylenol, aspirine, anyone?

25. 30-Mar-2009 Lijiang-Panda2009 RAMJW25 Graphs  A good graph can tell a long story fast...

26. 30-Mar-2009 Lijiang-Panda2009 RAMJW26 Graphs 2

27. 30-Mar-2009 Lijiang-Panda2009 RAMJW27 Tables

28. 30-Mar-2009 Lijiang-Panda2009 RAMJW28 FINAL COMMENTS

29. 30-Mar-2009 Lijiang-Panda2009 RAMJW29 Learning to learn  Like general relativity, lecturing is not easy, but smart and diligent people can learn  Learning takes effort, and (self)reflection  When you hear/give a talk, think about –Why did I (not) like it? –What was (not) good about it?  Help your colleagues - give feedback  I gave advice - NOT rules - deviate with care

30. 30-Mar-2009 Lijiang-Panda2009 RAMJW30 Conclusions  Prepare Prepare Prepare!!  Limitation marks the true master - less=more  Communication is the goal  Anyone can give competent/OK talk - by avoiding common mistakes