Sarah McKay: Scientist to Speaker. Elements of Effective Scientific Talks

Dr Sarah McKay is a neuroscientist turned science writer who translates mind and brain research into simple strategies for health and wellbeing. Sarah blogs about neuroscience, and speaks and writes about the brain to help others discover, understand, and implement the latest findings from the world of neurobiology. She has delivered her first TEDx talk last May 2015 in Sydney. Her TEDx talk “Indulge your neurobiology” One evening Sarah received an email with an invitation to speak at TEDxNorthernSydneyInstitute, in Australia. She immediately took the opportunity even though the event was only 5 weeks away. The topic Sarah created was how taking a 20-minute afternoon nap is excellent for your brain health. Her talk was titled Indulge your neurobiology. Due to the very short time for preparation, her coach Laura Huxley‘s help was invaluable. Sarah rehearsed approximately 60 times, and that allowed her to be present and to feel herself very natural when the time of the talk arrived. Sarah’s piece of advice for effective scientific talks There are 3 keys elements of effective scientific talks: * Your talk must land emotionally with someone, by using an emotional story. * Make complex ideas simple. You don’t have to show the scientific proof for every word you say. * It has to be relevant for the audience, something they can go away and do. Her speaking role model from the scientific world Sarah’s absolute favorite TED talk is “How to make stress your friend” by Kelly McGongial, a health psychologist. During the preparation for Sarah’s own TEDx talk, she broke down and analyzed McGongial’s TED talk in a “scientific approach”. Related: Public presentations about technical topics