Blog
Every month we share a blog post about clear and convincing communication.
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Timing is everything! When do you click to the next slide?
Do you find your slides OK but not getting your audience's attention? It could be down to your timing because you probably click too fast. Clicking …
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Speaking at Nerdland Festival: how do you get started?
Your audience wants to know what is set to happen as soon as possible. Otherwise their attention moves to other places. So, how to start …
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Skip that blind date
Your audience wants to know what is set to happen as soon as possible. Otherwise their attention moves to other places. So, how to start …
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When jargon in your presentation is really a problem
Sometimes you use a jargon word during your presentation that overshadows all other words. It’s a word that renders your entire presentation meaningless. And that’s …
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‘I want to, but my university won’t let me’
Following my keynote at the three-day conference in South Africa, the audience is wildly enthusiastic. ‘I would love to present my research in this way,’ …
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4 tips to hold your audience’s attention
Sometimes a presentation doesn't go well. You feel your audience's attention slipping away, yet you know you still have a lot of information to share, …
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Going to a conference abroad: by plane, by train, or better stay at home?
Scientists are among the most frequent of travelers, globe-trotting to various international conferences, summer schools, meetings, … We are all aware of the negative impact …
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How to create powerful charts?
The three best tips from Koen Van den Eeckhout You’ve wrapped up your experiments, and you now have a massive amount of data you want to …
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The Pitch Poster: a scientific poster with impact
Have you ever attended a scientific poster fair? A place filled with fascinating insights and ground-breaking research. Where you can tune in to riveting conversations …
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That time when I became insecure
There are times when I also do mess up on stage. For example, I often talk about the importance of determining who your audience is …
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Nerdland Festival: queuing for sewage
It is Sunday, June 5th and it is 4 pm at the Nerdland Festival. I (Toon Verlinden) walk past one of the tents where a …
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You are the expert, but why don’t they listen to you?
Would you let a toddler play with his food? You probably have an opinion about this. Suppose this question is the start of an educational video. …
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Valorization of your research: how should you get started?
You've been doing research for years. The results are so interesting that you want to do more with them than just publish a paper that …
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Is your presentation more like a waiting room or a lively conversation?
It is feedback I would wish upon anyone: attendees who come up to you following your presentation to share with you how time had flown …
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Do you know the trick with the black slide?
What does your audience look at when you are on stage? You. Except when there are slides. And precisely that is the problem with slides. …
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Your research is the book, your presentation is the film adaptation
Recently, I re-read the first part of The Lord of The Rings. Did you know that about a third of the book is not in …
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What do you do when they won’t turn on their webcam?
‘Online presenteren. Het voelt alsof je tegen een zwart gat spreekt.’ Peter, professor aan de UAntwerpen, vindt het erg vervelend dat hij zijn studenten niet kan …
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Come out with your research!
I would like to communicate more about my research, but where do I begin? This is one of the questions we get asked most often by …
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How do you prefer your coffee? Let’s discuss polls and poll fatigue
Ellen starts her online presentation with a question: 'How many women were diagnosed with breast cancer in Belgium in 2018?' We see 5 options, from …
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Podcasts, books, and videos we found particularly rewarding
Science is not only a very fascinating activity to do, but also to listen to, watch and read about. Also the past academic year, we …
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Three tips to avoid stumbling over technical terms
Technical terms in your presentation: is that allowed? Of course! But only if they are really necessary. Because all too often we use them, simply to …
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Three golden tips for solid science communication
The book Weg van Water (Dutch) recently hit the stores. I (Toon) wrote it together with water researcher Marjolein Vanoppen and boy are we proud …
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Good to know when you are nervous
A friend of mine plays the oboe. Each and every time we attend one of her performances it sounds flawless and truly impressive. Literally, not …
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A technique that is good for everything
Drink plenty of water. It helps to eliminate toxins, regulate your body temperature, and improve your concentration… Drinking water, it seems like the magic solution …
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Online presentations follow their own set of rules and you’d better get the hang of them
Online presentations are quickly gaining a bad reputation. Take a look at the following email, for example, that recently made its way into our mailbox: "The …
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How do you get your online audience to respond?
Tell me if this sounds familiar: You are presenting an online class or talk and you ask your audience a question. You wait, and wait …