Top tips
Here are some top tips, short articles, and snippets from our workshop booklets.
Writing an e-newsletter
Keep the content concise, relevant and timely, with one specific theme for each edition.
Editing your own writing
Are there words that don’t add any value (‘centre around’, ‘committed to’, ‘in terms of’, ‘such as these’)?
Communicating uncertainty – 7 tips
Risk and uncertainty is inherent in most research projects. Much of the information generated by research is not absolute and may change as new information emerges.
Quoting people in your story
Before you start writing the story, look at the quotes you’ve got from your sources and ask yourself the following questions…
Writing in plain English: 8 sentence-level techniques that really work
When you write using the active instead of passive voice, your writing is shorter, clearer and, most of all, more engaging.
Quoting people in your presentation
Famous people are not the only source of quotes.
Visual aids – preparing and delivering
Don’t hide behind your visual aids or use them as speech notes. Step out in front and let people see your natural style and enthusiasm.
Presenting with humour
A speaker who uses humour appropriately will engage the audience.
Managing nerves when presenting
To win the battle between clarity, detail and time, cut back on the detail and build in time for pauses.
Facilitating a meeting
Try these tips for facilitating a meeting that offers a comfortable and accessible ‘speaking space’ for everyone.
Brainstorming
Aim for a large number of ideas – focus on quantity, not quality.
Writing a media release
Often it’s not the quality of the science, but the way you ‘package’ your story that gains media coverage.
What makes a good news story?
It’s the ‘so what’ factor. The media is interested in how a scientist’s work will change the lives of their readers and viewers. They are much less interested in the clever science that went into the work.
Doing a television interview
Television is the most powerful and demanding form of media. It’s also the most time consuming to produce.