Usually in this blog I focus on science specific techniques, but scientists also find themselves in need of making speeches at weddings, at memorial services and also informally when meeting people. The following podcast is a technique I created to develop a speech in six steps. It’s really simple to create, easy to deliver, and fun to listen to because the technique is based in storytelling.
Check it out and give it a try. Let us know what you think!
Lisa B. Marshall’s Six Step Technique to Making a Speech http://preview.tinyurl.com/3nme83
A basic understanding of Adobe Photoshop is definitely a skill needed for the science professional.
Did you know that HP offers a free online course for Adobe Photoshop? The course has gotten some good feedback, so if you want to learn or brush-up on your skills this is good resource.
The course is designed primarily for Adobe Photoshop CS2. Although Adobe has come up with the latest CS3, the course includes fundamentals of Adobe Photoshop and you could benefit even if you are a CS3 user.
The course is built in 4 segments:
1. Lesson 1 - organizing with Bridge and cropping images. This also shows how to use EXIF and layers. More importantly this focuses on the various types of selections and cropping that is possible with Photoshop.
2. Lesson 2 - this segment of the online training on Photoshop CS2 focuses on color correction, tonal corrections and lighting. It briefly touches on the auto correction features in Adobe Photoshop as well as creative lighting techniques possible with Adobe Photoshop CS2.
3. Lesson 3 - this lesson concentrates on corrections that are so commonly used by all photographers. It includes red-eye correction, noise correction and sharpening an image.
4. Lesson 4 - this lesson has more to do with the final look and feel of your picture. It shows a few uses of the special effects filter and the vignetting effects that are possible with Adobe Photoshop CS2.
I know many of you would like help with your writing skills. Here are two courses (one free, one fee) and a link free videos and handout from writing workshops.
Fee Online Academic Writing Course:
The first one, is a fee online academic writing course from University of Pennsylvania. I have heard fabulous reviews from people who have gone through this training. Well worth the fee.
Then BPP and Penn’s English Language Program (ELP) have designed the perfect online courses for you. No assigned class times, flexible due dates, and only a 3-5 hour time commitment per week over a 14-week period. The courses are designed for non-native, as well as native English speakers.
Click here for the course descriptions
Click here for registration instructions
Free Online Academic Writing Course:
This free course is designed to help you successfully publish biomedical papers in English. It provides a full outline of the preparation of manuscripts with regards to planning, style, structure and composition.
They also offer a free email newsletter that regularly provides additional tips and advice on every aspect of writing and publishing a biomedical manuscript.
Free Online Video for Postdocs:
The Office of Intramural training at NIH has a great training program and they record the video and usually post the slides and handouts. The quality is excellent. The only downfall, is that you didn’t get to attend the session live! These are worth your time.
Here are three titles:
Workshop: Scientific Writing from the Reader’s Perspective
Workshop: Written Communication Skills
Workshop: CV and Resume Writing: Preparing Effective Job Search Correspondence
I did!
I LOVE this video…especially since my nephew is a particle physicist at Harvard!
If you are a fellow geek you’ve got to view this video that explains particle physics and the new accelerator using rap music…Here’s the video.
Oh, and in case you are wondering what jiggy means….you can learn more here.
Let me know what you think in the comments.
