Resident Journalist Jennifer Ouellette

Current Talks/Abstracts

Feb 15: Finding Your Narrative: A Different Kind of Reductionism

Science communication is a complex endeavor, spanning numerous media formats and a wide range of target audiences. A good strategy is to boil down your research into the simplest core narrative. You can then add layers of detail as needed to tailor your message to any format or audience. This is not "dumbing down." Rather, it's a form of reductionism, similar to how physicists strive to reduce natural phenomena down to the simplest possible equations that can be universally applied across many different systems. In much the same way, the core narrative drives the science story, whether your target audience is John Q. Public or professional colleagues.

Feb 22: To Blog or Not to Blog? That is the Question

Blogging has moved far beyond the "personal diary" format, and now offers an exciting new opportunity for scientists to communicate and interact with a broader audience. This workshop will be an introduction to Science Blogging 101, providing an overview of the many different approaches that can be taken with this highly flexible format; discussion of the pros and cons of blogging; and tips on how to make the most of the blogging experience. We will set up an actual KITP blog (Far from Equilibrium) during the session, and participants will be encouraged to post to the blog during their residence at KITP.

Feb 29: Press Conference Protocol

At some point in his or her career, almost every scientist is likely to be asked to participate in some form of press conference. Yet few receive any kind of training to prepare them to be effective communicators in such a setting. This workshop will offer useful tips about what makes for a useful press conference presentation. We will then stage a few mock press conferences, in which participants will be asked to give a 10-minute summation of their research and field questions from the audience, followed by critiques.

Mar 7: Inside the Writer's Room: Where Physics and Hollywood Collide

TV writer David Grae (Joan of Arcadia, The Gilmore Girls) and UCLA physicist David Saltzberg (technical consultant, The Big Bang Theory) will talk about the interaction between TV writers and scientists serving as technical consultants in Hollywood, each offering his perspective and taking questions from the participants. The session will then turn into a mock "Writer's Room." Grae will serve as "showrunner" for a brainstorming session in which participants will suggest ideas for a new physics-centric TV series.

Mar 14: The Art of the Book Deal

Popular science books represent a strong, stable market in the publishing industry, and editors are always on the lookout for scientists with strong communication skills who can convey complex topics to a general audience. This workshop will offer tips on landing a book contract. Where do you find a good agent? What makes a good book proposal? What's a reasonable amount to expect as a book advance? How do royalties work? Bring your questions and book ideas. I will be happy to work individually with anyone who's interested in developing a solid book proposal.

Mar 21: Just Don't Quote Me: The Perils and Pitfalls of Speaking to the Press

This will be a panel discussion focusing on the constant tension between scientists and the media. Physicists often bewail how their research is presented in the media, annoyed by misquotation, over-hyped results, or scientific descriptions that are just plain wrong. What can we work to change, and what is simply the nature of the Media-Beast? The panelists - including Caltech physicist Sean Carroll and science writer Karen Heyman, plus others TBA - will offer their insights into the inner workings of the media, based on their experiences, and offer tips on how to lower the risk of misrepresentation or miscommunication by building ongoing relationships with reporters.

Mar 27: Interview with the Physicist

Being a good interview subject is difficult enough in print or radio formats. Television is even more difficult, because of the added visual element. Most of us are unaware of how we come across on camera. Diandra Leslie Pelecky -- condensed matter physicist and author of the newly publisher The Physics of NASCAR -- will talk briefly about her experiences being thrust into the national media spotlight to promote her book, and what she's learned in the process. Jerry Roberts, a professional journalist now on staff at UCSB, will conduct short videotaped interviews with Leslie-Pelecky and one or two other volunteers about their area(s) of research. We will then watch the playback and make comments and critiques to help us all improve our on-camera presentations..

Apr 4: Inside the Actor's Studio: Tools and Techniques for Becoming a Better Speaker

Whether you're speaking before a general audience or before your peers, fostering excellent presentation skills can only enhance one's scientific career. Good communication isn't just about what you say, or what's on your PowerPoint slides. It's also a form of performance that requires attention to tone of voice, body language, making eye contact, and learning to read your audience's reactions and adapt your presentation accordingly -- in real time. These are not skills that come naturally to most people, whether you're a physicist or a science writer. Ottiliana Rolandsson (actress/director and soon-to-be newly minted PhD in UCSB's Department of Dramatic Art) will discuss how the tools and techniques employed by actors can extend beyond the walls of the theater to improve communication and collaboration in any given field. She will then lead willing volunteers in a series of training exercises to demonstrate how these tools can be employed to enhance our future presentations.

April 18: Communicating Across Disciplinary Barriers

Even at very high levels of physics, in areas that overlap significantly, it can require substantial effort to get one's research points across. Yet it is often precisely at these interdisciplinary boundaries where the most exciting and significant breakthroughs can occur. This workshop will adapt the concept of PowerPoint Karaoke to jump-start a discussion on the challenges of communicating one's research across disciplinary (or sub-disciplinary) boundaries. Relax - there will be no singing involved. PowerPoint Karaoke originated with a group of graduate students who experimented with giving random PowerPoint presentations in fields other than their own - often with amusing results. Pre-selected volunteers will give a randomly selected PowerPoint presentation to set the tone (and amuse the audience), and then we will move to the discussion.

Apr 25: Symmetry and Aesthetics in Physics and Mathematics

Physics and the arts are often thought to comprise Two Cultures, but imagination and creativity fuel the greatest achievements in both, whether it be Einstein s proof of the LT, or Picasso. This panel discussion will explore the connection between physics, math and various art forms: fine art, music, theater, dance, literature, even popular culture.