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Category Archives: Presentations and seminars
How to read a scientific paper
Do you remember when you read your first scientific paper? For me it was hard. Some parts I did not understand. Other parts were interesting. The structure seemed odd, with a narrative that did not flow. I read it from … Continue reading
Have you uploaded research images to Wikimedia yet?
How often to you get asked for images on your research? Did you have a photograph you took get copyrighted by a journal so you can no longer use it? Is there an easy fix to make your life easier … Continue reading
Posted in Photographs, Presentations and seminars, Public Communication
Tagged open access, photographs, Wikimedia
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An undergrad primer for attending scientific meetings
Undergraduates can benefit from attending scientific meetings even more if they have a plan. This plan should be focused around what you want to learn. The meeting overall will be broader than your specific interests, so it is good to … Continue reading
Posted in Posters, Presentations and seminars, Scientific meetings, Travel, Undergraduates
Tagged Meeting, posters, talking to strangers
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The power of explaining someone else’s idea
In our short evening class we like to have time to think, time to write, time to talk, and time to share. When these go together well, it is transformative. Last week in the last class before spring break, we … Continue reading
Posted in Communication, Posters, Presentations and seminars, Uncategorized
Tagged class, communication, explaining, posters
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The best way to summarize your research on your webpage
Will people smile when they go to your research web page? Will they immediately know what you do, broad and narrow? Do you delight? I certainly hope you don’t overwhelm with words. I just opened an investigators web page to … Continue reading
Posted in Communication, Presentations and seminars, Public Communication
Tagged drawing, ideas, research illustration, web page
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How to organize a fabulous small meeting
When I see a young scientist talking to one of the grizzled leaders of the field at a meeting I have organized, I hope that the new scientist will discover something valuable from her elder. Likewise, I hope the … Continue reading
Posted in Creativity, Mentoring, Posters, Presentations and seminars, Scientific meetings
Tagged communication, creative interactions, fun, meetings, posters
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Two things you must do when speaking to a broad audience
You know how important it is to be clear in a talk. You need to have a story, a clear flow. Ideally you build the argument rather than giving it all away with an outline at the beginning. You illustrate … Continue reading
Do mouse people talk outside their group? Do you?
Creativity research says to reach outside your group to come up with innovative ideas. I’ve written before on this topic, referencing Burt‘s work on structural holes and who is at risk for a new idea. Right now I’m at Janelia … Continue reading
Posted in New ideas, Presentations and seminars, Teaching
Tagged communication, creativity, HHMI, Janelia Farms, mice, Research, science
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Why you should use the word “evolution” if that is what you study
How often do you hear people say evolution when that is actually what they are working on? If you do not use the word, then some people will not get the connection of your work to this unifying theory. If … Continue reading
What exactly is a scientific sandbox or sandpit?
Our program notes say that a sandbox is an interactive session to stimulate new collaborations, ideas, and discussion. This sounds like a great idea, but I’m having a hard time understanding what exactly it means. Should it be held in … Continue reading
Sociobiology 