How do I communicate my research with a general audience more effectively?

Question

I really enjoyed my research but it happens that whenever I tell somebody about it, I have the impression I'm making it sound boring, unimportant and not exciting.Americans have a way of telling a story, I know this kind of "performance" does not suit my habit. I'm more the continental European, a bit reserved, a bit technical. Not everything I did immediately is about curing cancer, I admit it.I started by adapting a kind of top-down approach, first I say "Simulations", usually people feel they can relate to that. And if they wish to know more, then I can start going into some details.I think this approach makes sense, but still, I find others can induce interest by the other person immediately from the start of their explanations.Question: **How can I communicate my research to a general audience in a way that is more exciting and interesting?**

Answer 1

Analyze your audience. Who are they and why are they there? What might they already know about your topic?

Second, to grab listeners' attention and pull them in, develop an attention-getting introduction. This could be an important conclusion or finding from your research; or perhaps a quote from a well-respected researcher or a study participant. From there, you would identify your thesis statement ("Today I'll tell you about.....") for an informative talk and mention the main points you'll cover in your presentation. This preview tells the audience where you're headed and what they can expect.

All the best,

Phyllis

Answer 2

Phyllis D provided excellent points! You always want to consider your audience. Think about why your research is important. Think about why your audience might find your research interesting and/or important. Remember, you are around your research frequently, the audience may not be as familiar with the nuances of what you are presenting.

You also want to pay attention to your body language (eye contact, moving around if you can), volume control (not yelling, not whispering), and dynamic speaking voice (no monotone). If you are passionate about what you are researching, allow your audience to see your passion and help them get a feel for the reasons you are passionate regarding what you are researching and presenting.