Look Who’s Talking: Advice for Sharing Your Research
Each month, Look Who’s Talking features voices from across the Brigham answering the same question. On November 8, during the Brigham Research Institute’s Discover Brigham Poster Session, we asked the Research Excellence Award winners one tip they have about sharing research with the public. Add your voice by submitting a comment below.
“Try to tell a story! The work we do is essential to the well-being of the communities we serve, and communities we are members of. Research is more than just the data and the numbers; it is about real people’s lives. By grounding research in people and humanity, it is easier to communicate our passion and the importance of our work and engage with potential collaborators and stakeholders.” – Ritika Rastogi, MA, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Pediatrics
“When I present to the public, I like to make my presentation more of a conversation. I make sure to encourage people to interrupt with questions and that any question is a good question. This keeps them engaged with your presentation and allows them to leave with a better understanding of your work.” – Adam Nelson, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Surgery/Breast Surgery
“Speak slowly! While we know our research by heart, for the audience, it is the first time they have discovered the project, so speaking slowly allows the audience to better assimilate the information and retain the main concepts in the end.” – Delphine Franssen, PhD, Postdoc Fellow, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension
“A tip for sharing research that I learned while preparing for the Discover Brigham Poster Session was to know my audience. Because the people attending the poster session could range from experts in the medical field to patients passing by, I needed to have a poster and a presentation that was accessible for everyone to understand.” – Trevor Tamura, BA, Technical Research Assistant, Division of Infectious Diseases
“Do not be afraid to put your true colors out there. Science will always be exciting but making it remarkable requires your own ‘light.’ And, of course, remember to have fun!” – Maria-Tzousi Papavergi, MSPhD Student, Department of Neurology
“How about emphasizing the human side of your research? Make it relatable and show the real-world impact. People connect better with stories and personal experiences, so weaving those into your presentation can make your research more accessible and engaging.” – Manuel Mekkattu, MSc, Research Trainee, Division of Cardiac Surgery