Melissa Marshall: Talk nerdy to me

Translator: Joseph Geni Reviewer: Morton Bast

譯者: Geoff Chen 審譯者: Tim Lin

Five years ago, I experienced a bit

五年前，我經歷了

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

一個有點像愛麗絲夢游仙境的場景。

Penn State asked me, a communications teacher,

賓州州立大學要我這個教傳播學的老師

to teach a communications class for engineering students.

去教工科學生傳播學。

And I was scared. (Laughter)

當時，我很害怕。（笑聲）

Really scared. Scared of these students with their big brains

我真的嚇壞了，我很害怕這些頂著碩大腦袋的學生、

and their big books and their big, unfamiliar words.

害怕他們大部頭的書、還有他們又大又艱澀的詞彙；

But as these conversations unfolded,

但，當我進一步和學生交談後，

I experienced what Alice must have when she went down

我經歷了愛麗絲曾經掉下去的兔子洞，

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

我看到一扇通往新世界的門。

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

這就是我和那些學生們談話後的感覺，

with the students. I was amazed at the ideas

我驚豔於他們的想法，

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

我想要其他人一起經歷這個奇境。

And I believe the key to opening that door

我相信，打開那扇門的鑰匙是

is great communication.

絕佳的溝通力。

We desperately need great communication from our

我們非常需要科學家和工程師們的溝通力

scientists and engineers in order to change the world.

來改變世界。

Our scientists and engineers are the ones

我們的科學家和工程師是

that are tackling our grandest challenges, from energy

要解決我們最大挑戰的一群人，

to environment to health care, among others,

從能源到環境、醫療、以及其他等等，

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

如果我們對它一無所悉，

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

那工作便沒法完成。而我相信，我們這些非科學家

as non-scientists to have these interactions.

有責任參與這樣的互動過程；

But these great conversations can't occur if our scientists

但如果我們的科學家和工程師不邀請我們到他們奇幻之地的話，

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

這些很棒的談話是不會發生的，

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

所以科學家和工程師們，請和我們說說書呆子的事吧。

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

我要分享幾個妙方，

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

這些妙方可以確保我們瞭解：你們的科學是性感的，

and that your engineering is engaging.

你們的工程是可愛的。

First question to answer for us: so what?

第一個要回答的問題是： 那又怎樣？

Tell us why your science is relevant to us.

告訴我們，為什麼你的科學和我們有關。

Don't just tell me that you study trabeculae,

不要只是告訴我你研究小樑骨，

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

要告訴我你研究小樑骨， 是因為透過這個重要的骨骼網格狀結構

because it's important to understanding and treating osteoporosis.

我們可以理解、治療骨質疏鬆症。

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

當你描述你的科學時，請小心使用行話，

Jargon is a barrier to our understanding of your ideas.

行話是我們理解你們想法的一個障礙。

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

當然，你可以說「場域與時態性」（spatial and temporal），

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

但為什麼不說「空間和時間」（space and time）就好？ 這讓我們更好理解，不是嗎？

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

讓想法更容易理解，並不代表讓想法變笨；

Instead, as Einstein said, make everything

反而，就像愛因斯坦說的，

as simple as possible, but no simpler.

要盡可能地，讓一切簡約，而不是變得更簡單。

You can clearly communicate your science

你可以清楚傳達你的科學，

without compromising the ideas.

同時又不損害想法。

A few things to consider are having examples, stories

有幾點是可以考慮的：用用例子、故事、

and analogies. Those are ways to engage

和類比，這些是

and excite us about your content.

使我們對你的研究內容感到興趣的方法。

And when presenting your work, drop the bullet points.

此外，當上臺報告你的研究時，不要使用要點提示。

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

你們有沒有想過：要點提示（bullet points）這個名稱是怎麼來的嗎？（笑聲）

What do bullets do? Bullets kill,

子彈（bullets）是拿來做什麼的？子彈殺人，

and they will kill your presentation.

它們也會毀了你們的報告。

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

像這樣一張幻燈片，不僅乏味、無聊，它還佔據太多

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

我們大腦的語言區，使我們不知所措；

Instead, this example slide by Genevieve Brown is

相反地，這個由 Genevieve Brown 所做的幻燈片

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

看起來有效多了。它呈現小樑骨的特殊結構

of trabeculae are so strong that they actually inspired

是如此強而有力，甚至啓發了

the unique design of the Eiffel Tower.

埃菲爾鐵塔的獨特設計。

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

這裡的竅門是，使用單一、 可讀的句子，

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

使聽眾可以理解，假如他們沒跟上的話，

and then provide visuals which appeal to our other senses

然後提供視覺圖像，吸引我們注意

and create a deeper sense of understanding

讓我們對那被描述的東西

of what's being described.

獲得更深的理解。

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

所以我認為這些是鑰匙

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

讓我們可以打開

that is science and engineering.

科學與工程奇境的大門。

And because the engineers that I've worked with have

因為我共事過的工程師們

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

教我如何真正地連結自己內在的書呆氣，

I want to summarize with an equation. (Laughter)

所以我想要用個方程式進行摘要總結（笑聲）：

Take your science, subtract your bullet points

把你的科學，減去你的要點提示、

and your jargon, divide by relevance,

和你的行話，除以相關性，

meaning share what's relevant to the audience,

這意思是分享那些和聽眾有關的事

and multiply it by the passion that you have for

然後，把它乘以你們對於這個超棒研究的熱情

this incredible work that you're doing,

接著，將它乘以你們對於這個超棒研究的熱情

and that is going to equal incredible interactions

這等於一個令人難以置信的

that are full of understanding.

充分理解的互動過程。

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

這樣，科學家和工程師們，當你們解決了

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

這個方程式後，就來和我說說書呆子的事吧！（笑聲）

Thank you. (Applause)

謝謝。（掌聲）