The Woman Physicist’s Guide to Speaking
| Autor: | Heidi Newberg |
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| Rok vydání: | 2005 |
| Předmět: | |
| Zdroj: | Physics Today. 58:54-55 |
| ISSN: | 1945-0699 0031-9228 |
| Popis: | The first thing that happens when you stand up to speak is that the organizer or session chair hands you a microphone. Women typically do not have deep booming voices that carry over lecture halls, and should use amplification at every opportunity; there is nothing worse than preparing and delivering a great but inaudible lecture. Some microphones come with an alligator clip that is designed to attach to the front of a button-down shirt such as most men wear when giving talks, and a battery pack clips to the pocket, belt, or pants waist that male speakers wear. Women who are not prepared for the audio assistance often start their talks with an awkward exchange with the session chair while they try to figure out how to attach the audio apparatus. In most cases, it is acceptable to wear anything from jeans and a T-shirt to a stylish suit with a skirt. Clothing should be carefully chosen to be comfortable and to accommodate a microphone. If you wear a skirt or pants made of a sturdy fabric, then you have a waistband on which the battery pack can be clipped. When speaking, I usually wear a wool or cotton skirt, a cotton button-down shirt, and a jacket or vest. If the alligator clip cannot be attached to my shirt for any reason (old-fashioned styles can only be clipped in the direction that men’s shirts button), it can be clipped to the jacket or vest. Fashion boots can be easily worn with a skirt and, if chosen well, are a comfortable and secure alternative to heels, which are a trip hazard when you are nervous and need to walk on polished floors crisscrossed with temporary wiring. You should not wear distracting clothing when giving a talk. After all, you are already the focus of attention and you would like to have the audience concentrate on the physics. Young women often make the mistake of beginning their talks with an apology or self-deprecating comment of some sort. I once saw a young woman deliver a prize lecture for a national astronomy award. In her first sentence, she declared that the judges had made a big mistake in choosing her for the award. Although I think this was intended partly as a joke, it also showed her recognition that research results come from the combined work of many minds and fingers. As women, we tend to see scientific endeavor as a web of activity, and to work in groups to accomplish a common goal. It is somewhat foreign for us to think about distinguishing ourselves—moving ourselves up through a ranking or pecking order. Do give credit to your collaborators, but do not do it at your own expense. This is your chance to shine. The confidence with which you present your material is very important to your success in communicating your ideas. Although it is somewhat taboo for women to assert or assume they know everything, it is a sign of weakness for men to question their own abilities. If a woman shows through her words and manner that even she does not believe in her own abilities, then a man will find it quite reasonable that he should not believe in them either. Listen to yourself when you practice the talk, and make sure you sound confident. Then carry that confidence with you into the question-and-answer period. And keep smiling. After all, your subject really is interesting, and fun. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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