Melissa Marshall: Talk nerdy to me

Translator: Joseph Geni Reviewer: Morton Bast

翻译人员: Ivy Jingirl 校对人员: Jing Xu

Five years ago, I experienced a bit

五年前，我曾有过一个

of what it must have been like to be Alice in Wonderland.

有如漫游爱丽丝仙境的经历。

Penn State asked me, a communications teacher,

宾夕法尼亚州立大学让我这个教沟通学的老师

to teach a communications class for engineering students.

给工程系的学生上沟通学课。

And I was scared. (Laughter)

我被吓到了。（笑声）

Really scared. Scared of these students with their big brains

我真的被吓坏了。这些学生发达的大脑，

and their big books and their big, unfamiliar words.

还有他们所读的巨著，及他们使用的又长又生僻的词语通通都吓到我了。

But as these conversations unfolded,

不过随着对话的展开，

I experienced what Alice must have when she went down

我的经历就如爱丽丝一样，顺着那个兔子洞

that rabbit hole and saw that door to a whole new world.

下去，看到了那扇通往一个全新世界的大门。

That's just how I felt as I had those conversations

这就是我和那些学生们对话时的感受。

with the students. I was amazed at the ideas

我对他们的想法感到惊奇，

that they had, and I wanted others to experience this wonderland as well.

而且我希望其他人也能体验这种在仙境中的感觉。

And I believe the key to opening that door

我相信打开那扇门的关键

is great communication.

就是要有很好的交流与沟通。

We desperately need great communication from our

为了改变世界，我们迫切需要从我们的

scientists and engineers in order to change the world.

科学家和工程师那里得到良好的沟通。

Our scientists and engineers are the ones

我们的科学家和工程师们解决的都是

that are tackling our grandest challenges, from energy

我们所面临的最大的难题，从能源

to environment to health care, among others,

到环境再到卫生保健，等等。

and if we don't know about it and understand it,

如果我们不明白也不理解的话，

then the work isn't done, and I believe it's our responsibility

他们的工作对我们就没有什么意义了，并且我相信

as non-scientists to have these interactions.

我们作为非科学家们有责任与他们进行互动交流。

But these great conversations can't occur if our scientists

可是如果我们的科学家和工程师们不把我们领进门

and engineers don't invite us in to see their wonderland.

去看看他们的仙境的话，我们之间也就不可能有很好的交流。

So scientists and engineers, please, talk nerdy to us.

所以科学家和工程师们，请跟我们说说高科技是什么吧。

I want to share a few keys on how you can do that

我想来分享几个有用的方法，告诉你们如何才能保证

to make sure that we can see that your science is sexy

让我们也觉得你们的科学"性感"迷人、

and that your engineering is engaging.

你们的工程学魅力四射。

First question to answer for us: so what?

第一个要回答我们的问题： 高科技又怎样？

Tell us why your science is relevant to us.

告诉我们，为什么你们的科学与我们有关。

Don't just tell me that you study trabeculae,

别光告诉我你们研究骨小梁，

but tell me that you study trabeculae, which is the mesh-like structure of our bones

要告诉我你们研究骨小梁是因为这种骨骼的网状组织

because it's important to understanding and treating osteoporosis.

对认识和治疗骨质疏松症很重要。

And when you're describing your science, beware of jargon.

另外当你们描述科学原理时，要注意术语的使用。

Jargon is a barrier to our understanding of your ideas.

术语是我们理解你们想法的一个障碍。

Sure, you can say "spatial and temporal," but why not just say

当然了，你们可以说“空间性与瞬时性”，可是为什么不说

"space and time," which is so much more accessible to us?

"空间与时间"呢？这对我们来说容易理解多了。

And making your ideas accessible is not the same as dumbing it down.

让你们的想法简单易懂并不等于简化它，

Instead, as Einstein said, make everything

相反，正如爱因斯坦所说，让一切

as simple as possible, but no simpler.

尽可能的简单，而不是简化。

You can clearly communicate your science

你不必非得改变你的观点才能清楚地

without compromising the ideas.

传达出你的科学理论。

A few things to consider are having examples, stories

可以考虑用一些例子、故事、

and analogies. Those are ways to engage

还有类比。这些都是使你们的谈论内容

and excite us about your content.

吸引我们、让我们兴奋的方法。

And when presenting your work, drop the bullet points.

还有在用幻灯片演示你们的研究成果时，不要使用点句式。

Have you ever wondered why they're called bullet points? (Laughter)

你想过为什么点句式符号叫"子弹"点儿吗？（笑声）

What do bullets do? Bullets kill,

子弹是干什么的？子弹能杀人，

and they will kill your presentation.

也能灭了你的演示报告。

A slide like this is not only boring, but it relies too much

像这样的幻灯片不仅仅乏味无聊，而且太过依赖

on the language area of our brain, and causes us to become overwhelmed.

我们大脑的语言区，使我们不知所措。

Instead, this example slide by Genevieve Brown is

而这张由Genevieve Brown制作的示例幻灯片

much more effective. It's showing that the special structure

效果就好多了。它向我们说明骨小梁的特殊结构

of trabeculae are so strong that they actually inspired

超级强大，甚至连埃菲尔铁塔的独特设计

the unique design of the Eiffel Tower.

都受到了它的启发。

And the trick here is to use a single, readable sentence

这里的窍门就是使用简单、易读的句子，

that the audience can key into if they get a bit lost,

让观众即使有点儿不明白也能够掌握要点，

and then provide visuals which appeal to our other senses

然后接下来提供一些能够刺激我们感官的图像，

and create a deeper sense of understanding

并且能让我们对所描述的内容

of what's being described.

有更深层次的理解。

So I think these are just a few keys that can help

以上这些就是我觉得能够帮助

the rest of us to open that door and see the wonderland

我们大家打开那扇大门的钥匙，感受科学与工程学

that is science and engineering.

仙境的好方法。

And because the engineers that I've worked with have

那么因为与我共事过的工程师们教会我

taught me to become really in touch with my inner nerd,

接触我内心存在的学术狂人，

I want to summarize with an equation. (Laughter)

我想用一个方程式来总结一下我的观点。（笑声）

Take your science, subtract your bullet points

用你们研究的科学，减去你们的点句式

and your jargon, divide by relevance,

和术语，除以相关内容，

meaning share what's relevant to the audience,

就是要分享和观众有关的内容，

and multiply it by the passion that you have for

再乘以你对自己正在从事的

this incredible work that you're doing,

这份神奇工作的激情，

and that is going to equal incredible interactions

它就会等于：具备充分理解的、

that are full of understanding.

效果惊人的互动交流。

And so, scientists and engineers, when you've solved

因此，科学家和工程师们，当你们解决了

this equation, by all means, talk nerdy to me. (Laughter)

这个方程式以后，就想尽一切办法，跟我说说高科技吧。（笑声）

Thank you. (Applause)

谢谢。（掌声）