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Duncan Yellowlees

@dyellowlees.bsky.social

790 followers 560 following 1.4K posts

Academic Research talks don't have to be shit! ✨ Researcher trainer ✨ Opinions about research culture ✨ Maker and fan of anything with dragons Supporting phd's/ecrs/academics to do better more engaged and effective presentations | He/Him

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · Nov 13

Hello to my new followers!

I'll do a little intro

• I teach researchers how to present their work effectively

• Storytelling, slides, preparation, I got you!

• Opinionated about research culture

• Background in sci comm & museums

• I also make stuff, pics below!

A dark brown leather hold all, sitting in the sun

A pair of watches on dark great background. One has a black leather strap the other brown. It's the straps I made... Not the watches

A pair of kitchen knives on a grey slate. A big one and small one. Both handled in pale wood with swirls and patterns

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 3h

Also just seen your bio, super interested in your work. Wanna chat?

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 3h

Thanks very much @fuelled-by-coffee.bsky.social

Was a really nice session to do!

QQ - was the pacing ok? I cut it down from the full 2hr workshop and was a bit worried it was too packed/fast?

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 5h

Your audience aren’t mind readers, they’ve not seen this stuff before so give them the respect of slowing down and talking them through it.

Your audience will enjoy your talk way more if they actually understand it.
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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 5h

I’ll tell you what its not.....30s – which is about how long lots of academics put their horrifically complex graphs up on the screen.

Stop it.

It dosen't work.
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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 5h

How long does it take you to understand new graph of figure when you read it in a paper?

5 mins?
10?

Need to go away, have a cuppa, and come back to it?

#PHD #Research #Academic #Presenting #PHDChat 🧵
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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 1d

How fit all your research into a short talk...

Don't.

#PHD #Research #Academic #Presenting #PHDChat

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 2d

Have little nervous habits when you present?

We all do. Some of us fiddle with keys & jewellery, maybe we hop or sway, & we say “err” & “um”. It’s not a problem unless it’s distracting the audience.

You can undo these habits, but focussing on other skills is usually more valuable.

#Academia

Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 2d

I always need to hear this. Is something of an Achilles heel! So we'll timed.

Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 5d

Practical tips for maintaining an engaged audience that sooo many academics fail at

- vary what they are listening to/focusing on
- make sure data is connected to context
- Talk to them not at them
- Give the impression you want to be there

#PHD #AcademicChatter

Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 6d

When communicating research you are constantly balancing complexity, clarity and speed.

You can usually have 2/3 but not all.

The most important is clarity.

Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 7d

Research Impact means different things to different people, but if what you are trying to do is influence the world outside of academia, then you and your teams are going to need to be able to talk to people.

Invest in those skills.

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 7d

A strong ending is key.

Remind us of the problem, give us a call to action, and make it crystal clear you're done.

Let's leave our audience enlightened, not wondering if there's more.

The easiest way to ensure no awkward silence.. say "thank you very much"

Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 8d

Ways to build trust throughout a presentation

- Subtle 'authority drops'
- Thank interaction honestly
- Use data to back up you points
- Stay calm and in control if anything goes wrong#
- Show you want to be there

Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 9d

Just gonna leave this here for folks in Academia

“It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn’t use long, difficult words

but rather short, easy words

like,

‘What about lunch?’”

—Winnie the Pooh

Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 11d

Excellent 👌

Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 20d

Look what we have here then.

Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 12d

Speed vs complexity

In a talk, the trade-off of speed and complexity is a fine balance...

Fast + Complex = Overload 😢
Slow + Simple = Patronising 😢
Fast + Simple = Broad understanding 😁
Slow + Complex = Deep understanding 😁

#Academia #PHDChat #Research #Presentations

Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 13d

Don’t know the answer to a question? Say “I don’t know” – it’s fine.

Maybe you don’t know right now but could look it up – or you’ve forgotten cause of the stress of public speaking, It’s fine.

You are allowed – nay entitled – to say you don’t know. “Let’s chat afterwards” is a great follow up.

Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 14d

“It’s more of a comment than a question.”

We’ve all been there – and you don’t have to put up with it. If you’re the speaker, you own the space. Tactfully suggest that you’re prioritising people with questions? Roll your eyes? Throw things at them? The choice is yours!

#PHDChat #Presentations

Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 15d

“But that’s the way talks have always been done!” – academia has a huge status quo bias, change is slow.

Embrace your rebellious side and go do your talks differently! Audiences get bored, so novelty is a big asset. And by doing it YOUR WAY, it’ll be more honest, authentic, and genuine.

#PHDChat

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 16d

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 16d

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 16d

Thanks!! I think I get a bit of a tour later!

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 16d

Today I shall mainly be at A PARTICLE ACCELERATOR!!

only a tad full of geeky excitement!

Duncan in front of a sign which reads "synchrotron"

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 19d

Presenting online isn’t much different - except, we have to fit it all into this little box.

Keep your hands inside the box by tucking your elbows in (T.rex style!).

That little box sucks also energy out, so put extra variety and emphasis into your voice, to avoid sounding too flat and boring.

Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 19d

Reflecting on the #vitaecon2025. Two thoughts that are meaningful to what we do.

1. Academia is often boring/formal and it shouldn't be. Not least because it stifles human connection

2. Public speaking skill/strategy is an essential capability needed to achieve the impact goals of modern research