Presenting Science is just a Joke!

When I was first taught science in school, the format was very simple: we began with an aim or a hypothesis, followed by the method, results, and finally a conclusion. Straying from this tried and tested technique was not an option if you wanted to get an 'A'.

This format was then developed into the way we presented our scientific work. As time went on, it even became a bit of a game to include all the twists and turns of how we overcame all intellectual obstacles on our way to the 'truth', before finishing off with some victorious conclusions! (then of course adding the reams of future work that just had to be done to increase understanding) 😉

This long-winded way of presenting research is very similar to what we in the UK call a 'shaggy dog story' – a long, rambling joke that is as funny in the recount of all the twists and turns in the buildup, as it is when we reach the punchline at the end.

Fast forward to the corporate arena, however, and I found that this approach to talking about my research just did not work. No sooner had I begun my tale of the latest scientific adventure when my flow would be hijacked by the non-scientist audience in the room. I'd be interrupted on slide two and asked a question about something that was on slide twelve. I'd then have to change my carefully rehearsed train of thought while giving away part of the later plot too soon. "Just let me get back on track and I'll eventually tell you the answer to your 'out of sync' question!" I'd be screaming at them, silently.

So, what was happening?... By interrupting, the audience was already eager for the 'punchline' of my research, and without that, they struggled to relate to my rambling joke.

The takeaway? Scientists, when you have your next presentation to non-scientists, TELL THE PUNCHLINE FIRST. They will then let you tell the rest of your joke.

You may also find that if you tell the joke well, at the end, they will tell you YOUR punchline.

And if you're really lucky, they then might just fund that future work you had up your sleeve 😊