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Technically Speaking

Compile and present a technical or scientific talk so you always get your point across

Practicalities

This course focuses on developing and delivering clear, well-structured scientific and technical presentations. It is designed for postgraduates and professionals who need to communicate their ideas and conclusions effectively at scientific symposia, in-house workshops, and seminars. The course is tailored for those with a technical background who value innovation, factual accuracy, and conceptual understanding, rather than marketing or sales professionals.


The content is based on a series of voluntary classes I have taught over the years, all aimed at helping participants improve their communication skills. I have successfully delivered this course throughout my 30-year academic career, both at graduate and postgraduate levels, as well as in consultancy work for Saltwork's clients.


Notably, many former students have said this was one of the most valuable courses of their undergraduate years—often more impactful than the specialised postgraduate courses I teach on carbonates and evaporites.

While it's not a design course per se, it incorporates essential elements of design. The primary emphasis remains on conveying your message competently and professionally.


Curriculum

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1. The Talk - Technically Speaking

1. The talk - Notes

2. Audience Analysis

2. The Audience - Notes

2. Audience analysis - Exercise

2. Audience awareness - Exercise

3. Psychology of understanding

3. Psychology - Notes

Patterns of learning - Exercise

4. Focus the content - Outlines

4. Focus - Notes

4. A guide to making the outline for your talk

4. Focus -Exercise: What not to do?

5. Gathering and sorting ideas - video

5. Gathering ideas - Notes

5. Solving problems - Exercise

6. Give the talk - How to do it

6. Give the talk - Notes

7. Visual design

7. Visual design - Notes

7. Visual design - Exercise: Too much text

Gestalt Design Principles - Art with Kunstler, a video

Evaluate the talk: Some forms to complete

8. The Physical setting - You and your technique

8A. Body Language - Notes

8B. Eye Contact - Notes

8C. Your Voice - Notes

8D. Foreign Climes - Notes

Evaluate your talk (Forms 1 and 2)

What if you are both organiser and presenter? Guidelines

9. Dealing with questions - Friendly or hostile

9A. Dealing with questions

9B. Questions from a Hostile Audience

Dealing with questions - A guide

10. Nervousness and how to cope

10. Nervousness -Notes

Dealing with Nervousness - A guide

How to present to keep your audience’s attention | Mark Robinson | TEDxEindhoven

Life after Death by Powerpoint - Don McMillan

Public Speaking- How to make your message matter | Laura Penn | TEDxHSG

Your body language shapes who you are - Amy Cuddy

What do you know?

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Meet your instructor

Executive Director - Technical Services

John Warren



John Warren has more than 30 years of experience in the petroleum and minerals industries. John specialises in rock and brine characterisation problems in saline carbonates, salt, potash, lithium salts, base metal and hydrocarbon exploration programmes. He has been involved in training and technical studies conducted by various companies, including ADNOC, Asia-Pacific Potash, BHP Billiton Petroleum, BHP Billiton Resources, Chevron International, Exxon International, Fortescue Metals, Homestake, Husky Oil, MMG, Nexen, NIOC, Nutrien, Pasminco, PTTEP, Santos, Saudi Aramco, Shell International, Statoil, Vietnam Petroleum Institute, and others. He has also served as a technical expert in evaporites for the AAPG, BBC, IHRDC, and New World Horizons. In addition, John has served on the World Bank Panel of Experts and serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Petroleum Geology.