Conference Agenda

Presenting your work during this conference is an exciting opportunity to show your work and establish yourself as a legitimate and valuable contributor to the field. But facing an audience is stressful, even for seasoned speakers. You will feel under scrutiny, judged. In this context, how can you inspire trust and confidence while facing stress-induced self doubt? And how do you engage and guide listeners rather than merely recite results and conclusions? This workshop will provide concrete and actionable answers to these questions to help you present your work with an impact during the conference. Using exercises inspired from the world of improvised comedy, we will explore many components of stagecraft: voice and body language (posture and gestures), space and presentation tools (microphone, clicker…). We will work on stress management and dealing with questions from the audience. The workshop will be highly active and interactive. Throughout the morning, you will engage in activities in small groups and with everyone, receiving feedback from your peers and from the trainer. At the end of the session, you will be able to: - talk to, care for and adapt to your audience - manage your stress - project competence and confidence - answer questions calmly 

Hedwig Ens is  a multi-talented scientist, publisher, and improviser, is a firm believer of making science open and accessible for all through the power of stories. After working as an evolutionary ecologist, she turned to the world of science publishing: working for the journal Frontiers for Young Minds, a non-profit open access journal with science for kids, edited by kids. With SamSpeaksScience she trains doctoral students in public speaking using the tools of storytelling and applied improvisation. And as a senior member of the Catalyst theater, which creates new media to communicate science, she performs and teaches improvisation theater with a science twist.