Hi Industries Serving Global Needs.

Hi Industries Serving Global Needs.

A chicken is interested in the person who wants bacon and eggs for breakfast but the pig is committed. It's a light quip (for all but the pig!) but it makes a relevant statement about what underpins our actions and how often we can overlook the significance of the...,

...., events we can trigger,

My intent is to start looking at the industries that exist because of the needs we have and the wants (or desires) that we are able to fulfill. In other words, we don't drive cars because they exist but cars exist because we need transportation and we, collectively, have found a way to harness the power in petroleum for a mechanical system that affords a more economical means to satisfy our needs. I'm being very brief here and know that I could comment on horses, wagons, watercraft and more but I'll let it suffice that you, dear readers, will allow me to build upon this premise, from the perspective I have chosen, without getting into the weeds (for now…).

What is that we need? What desires do we have the luxury of affording? We need food, shelter and clothing? And, Maslow tells us that we have a hierarchy of needs that veer into social psychological and spiritual realms. Way down the road, I may venture into some of Maslow's more subjective ideas but for now let's focus on objective matters where this blogs audience generally focuses its attention.

And, on we go to begin our discussion.....

Hi How to Translate Science Speak!.

Hi How to Translate Science Speak!.

Scientists and engineers know things that laypersons don't know. This is just fine, except when the engineer/scientist has to or wants to communicate with said layperson(s) about their field. Then the "science speak" comes out. In these situations there is often a high probability that one of the two parties will either become extremely confused and frustrated, or extremely bored and sleepy. 

Neither of these is the desired outcome...

I often find that no matter how boring a certain topic of conversation may be, if someone has a passion for it and can communicate that passion to me, I can find it interesting. Unfortunately, even though I have an engineering background, I often am bored out of my mind when talking to scientists and engineers. Why?

Here are a few pointers from Melissa Marshall (from TEDtalks) that are helpful when attempting to simplify your communication:

Be Relevant - Bridge the gap between your work and your audience. From the perspective of your audience, answer the question "So what?".

Avoid Jargon - Avoid or replace language that is specific to your field or that your audience would not understand. Don't use 'spacial' and 'temporal', use 'space' and 'time'.

Be Visual - Images, graphics, and comparisons are great tools to help your audience understand and remember what you're telling them.

Avoid bullets - Long bullet points can be a language overload to the audience. In presentations, try using a single straightforward sentence to present an idea. And link these sentences to visuals when appropriate.

I Just Saved A Bunch Of Words...,