Page Comparison

NA - no class on Monday

Wed topics are course structure, expectations, nature of assignments, grading, and structure of subfields of physics.

none, that next Monday is a holiday. But assignment for subsequent Monday is to make single-page outlines of pros and cons regarding applicability of physics to the life sciences, which we will discuss

Labor day holiday on Monday, no class

CWS: Discussion of outlines- make a single-page outline with pro and con of physics methods to the life sciences. Discussion about outlines and their importance.

Converting an outline into a presentation

Abstracts and scientific meetings.

all: watch Jamous youtube.

reporter question - spy satellites. Send PDF to Stubbs no later than midnight Sunday

CWS: Making an overhead for a presentation- single-slide exercise on spy satellites, go over their slides

• Who is the audience?
• What's the main message?
• What will make the case the most persuasively? Graphics? Plots? Bulleted list?
• Does the overhead make sense as a "stand-alone" ?
• Font sizes and readability- on laptop, as handout, or on projector?

resources for making talks.

Tufte article

Basics of powerpoint for scientists

Nature papers on scientific presentations

Pick topics by Wednesday Sept 28

pick a topic for an oral presentation and abstract for a meeting (15 8 minutes+2 for questions)

find an example of the worst overhead.

write down what your own weaknesses are, and how you plan to address them in this class.

CWS: Scientific talks, the good, the bad and the ugly. Class discussion about presentations- pace, content, goals, NYT example. What makes a good presentation? Tell a story!

Second language issues

(Don't assume they have read the material, go over it)

show example from law school prof.

pace and number of slides.

Use slide numbers and keep track of time!

Avoid technical failures- check things out. Your machine, or theirs? PPT issues between PC and Mac. Embedded videos. Driving projectors.

backup slides

giving the talk- the first few sentences, describe all plot axes, look at the audience.

Short written documents: Abstracts and press releases.
different goals, different audiences, different structure.  

Group A assignment for Monday- presentation and discussion

Assignment for group B: prepare an abstract (250 word max) appropriate for a professional meeting, that will attract an audience to your talk and that coveys the key message you hope to convey.

Lab tours!

MM (Stubbs gone)

group A gives taped 15 minute presentations

group B turns in abstract

Group A assignment is to prepare abstracts

Group B assignment is to prepare presentations 

Elevator speech assignment

Pick two different topics by Monday Oct 17. One as a science meeting talk, the other as a public presentation to an educated but non-physics audience. We'll make abstracts for the first, and press releases for the second.

MM (Stubbs gone)

group B gives 15 taped minute presentations

group A turn in abstracts

Stubbs: elevator speeches exercise

Group A assignment is to prepare abstracts

Group B assignment is to prepare presentations

MM (Stubbs gone)

review of what's been learned, class discussion on student presentations.

Group A talk #1

group B abstracts on topic #1

CWS: Students give their Elevator speechesMM (Stubbs gone):

Group B talk #1

group A abstracts on topic #1

CWS: Communicating with the public- pubic lectures, press releases, blogsMM (Stubbs gone) :

group A talk #2

group B press release on topic #2

Draft Press release on topic of choice

watch Stubbs LSST spiel on Youtube

select presentation topic #2 for everyone. Presentation #2 is for a non-technical audience- advice to a Senate committee on a technical topic of your choice: solar energy, STEM education, quantum computing, nuclear weapons, etc.

CWS: Class review of press releases, discussion

MM (Stubbs gone):

group B talk #2

group A press release on topic #2

MM (Stubbs gone)here:

Group A taped 15 min talks topic #2
Group B turn in position papers 

MMStubbs here:

Group B 15 min talks topic #2
Group A turn in position papers

Final posters due Wed Dec 9