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12 tips for science communication, by Quentin Cooper
Quentin Cooper is a brilliant science writer, TV presenter, radio speaker and FameLab trainer. Another talent of his is creating memorable and relevant punch lines. Here are 12 of his precious tips, in the form of a short animated movie. If you're a budding science communicator, feel free to print out this video and frame it on your bedroom wall.
12 tips for science communication
1. Make the everyday extraordinary and the extraordinary everyday
No need to find a fancy cutting-edge topic: you can also surprise people with some amazing facts about their everyday life!
2. Know your audience and pick examples that suit them
Use anecdotes which refer to your audience’s culture, language or interests
3. Have faith in your story
If you're not excited by your story, why should anyone else be?
4. You can often engage people more if you talk about the unknown
This is Quentin Cooper’s pet theory!
5. Change your rhythm
Try to alternate between short and long sentences, vary your tone of voice, put intonation on key words...
6. KISS : Keep It Short and Simple
Try to be concrete, give examples!
7. The problem is not usually what to say, it’s what to leave out
Make the right sacrifices
8. There is no one best way
So find your own!
9. Ultimately, the science should be the main thing...
... But you have to make people pick up the story first!
10. Say what people can relate to
Talk about universal subjects
11. Say something odd
It is more likely to be remembered. Shrimps!
12. If you don’t roll the dice, you don’t get the luck
Huge thanks to the British Council, FameLab France and Quentin Cooper!
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Ch. de la Fauvette 9
CH-1012 Lausanne
Big Bang Science SAS
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