Episode 34: How a chemical engineer is changing the way academics present (because life is too short for bad presentations) with Toon Verlinden
In today’s episode, I talk to Toon Verlinden. Toon is an international presentation coach and expert in scientific communication. He is a freelance science and travel journalist and a Biochemical Engineer by profession. Together with Hans Van de Water, they started a blog and wrote a book called 'The Floor is Yours: Because Life is too Short for Bad Presentations', and now train thousands of researchers in the techniques necessary to prepare and give effective presentations.
Listen in when I ask about the coolest and craziest thing he has done in a presentation.
In this episode you’ll learn:
How one presentation provided the opportunity for a career pivot
Tips on how to make slides more compelling with your audience.
Tips on creating engaging presentations as first time facilitators.
The importance of PowerPoint slide design for a workshop (and how a second version can help with your handouts)
About our guest
Toon Verlinden is a freelance science and travel journalist and a Biochemical Engineer by profession. His expertise as an engineer lies in subjects such as water purification, food safety, climate and biochemistry. Emerged with a joint purpose, he wrote the book 'The Floor is Yours: Because Life is too Short for Bad Presentations' along with his good friend, Hans Van de Water,to support researchers at universities, university colleges and organisations in bringing clear and attractive research presentations.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
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Quotes of the show:
“If you are presenting, you are important; not your PowerPoint.”
“I think as a facilitator, you need to be very honest with yourself and with your audience.”
“Don’t go too broad with your audience. It may also makes it more easier to focus your workshops towards your audience.”
Episode transcript
View the First Time Facilitator episode transcript with Toon Verlinden.