Finding Your Scientific Voice - Theatre Techniques for Physicists

Research talks can be dull. Scientists may be making important, ground-breaking discoveries, but their audience is often missing the message. Whether presenting a conference talk, pitching a congressman for funding, or participating in a job interview, scientists must learn how to tell their stories. Conducting research and talking about that research are separate skill sets. The curse of knowledge, too much information, or the inability to speak and move properly may all be standing in the way of turning a talk into a memorable event. Building on initiatives like those of the Alan Alda Center and Bruce Greene’s theatrical productions, our workshop helps researchers connect performing skills to the reality of presenting complex research subjects. This talk reviews key aspects of the Finding Your Scientific Voice workshop. Using digital recordings of pre and post workshop presentations, we will demonstrate what is exceptional about our workshop process and how it uses theatrical tools like Great Beginnings, the Dramatic Arc, the Core Message and Strong Endings to transform a humdrum presentation into a dynamic speaking event.