Good science speech topic-3 mins (1 Viewer)

[LoveHateSchool]

It's a short speech, so it can't be too content heavy. It's for NYSF, audience will most probably be mainly kids in my interest group and some other adult science folk. I want it to be interesting, (and I know with public speaking that's a lot to do with presentation, which should be fine cause I'm used to 8 min impromptu debating speeches).

I keep changing my mind on the topic, things either seem too simple (like chemistry in chocolate) or too difficult to explain in speech forum. I think it'd be good to have a topic that had a good dabbling in the real world, and not just pure science.

Rep for any good suggestions

 

[SpiralFlex]

What really interests me in a person's speech is getting us as an audience to be involved. (But then again, it would be quite time consuming.)

What topic are you thinking of talking about?

 

[Kimyia]

I once did a public speaking competition on noetic science (got the idea from Dan Brown) It was pretty interesting and no one had really heard about it so they were all very engaged - I threw in a lot of rhetorical questions.
Also the double-edged sword of chemistry? The chemicals that were made for good but ended up being used for things like warfare - e.g. Arthur Galston invented a chemical which was to increase the size of soybeans (iirc he was trying to end world hunger) but someone got a hold of the chemical, tweaked it a little and created agent orange.
Hope that might give you some ideas

 

[someth1ng]

Didn't that guy actually create Agent Orange? Agent Orange in large quantities killed the plants but in small quantities increased size of soybeans? I may be wrong but w/e.

 

[Kimyia]

Didn't that guy actually create Agent Orange? Agent Orange in large quantities killed the plants but in small quantities increased size of soybeans? I may be wrong but w/e.

Yes, I believe you are right, but I think they did tweak it a little after he discovered it to make it a more powerful defoliant.

 

[LoveHateSchool]

I couldn't rep any of you guys because I've done it recently obviously. But thank you for your input, I'm just indecisive. You've given some things to kickstart mulling on though.

 

[Bored_of_HSC]

Ohhh this sounds interesting.

First a couple of questions (answering a question with a question). What interests you? (guessing from your subs bio and chem?). Also, does this have to be pure science or can it be political and historical (ie debate)?

One definite thing would be to do something you're absolutely confident speaking about.

 

[Bored_of_HSC]

Any prizes for the speech?

 

[LoveHateSchool]

Yes my scientific interests are bio and chem mainly, but I'm not a physics hater haha.

It doesn't have to be pure science. And I don't know if there are any prizes for it, I think it's a public speaking exercise more than anything.

I've spoken confidently about many things in debates I didn't have a clue about. (Like the time I was arguing major sporting events should be free to air I only watch gymnastics and diving really at Olympics)

 

[Bored_of_HSC]

Ahk unfortunately my knowledge doesn't extend much past physics.

But umm, try doing something relevant and fun. How about genetics? You could go into the whole nature vs nurture debate.
To make things more interesting you could go into the studies of twins raised seperately ect. There's an interesting doco on SBS (the first part just ran a couple of days ago but you can download it or something).

As spiral said audience participation would be key (you could ask the audience if they share similar traits with their parents ect).

 

[hayabusaboston]

okay, I think you should do string theory, and go into concepts like time travel, extra dimensions, wormholes, particle physics etc. If you read a brief history of time it makes things a bit easier. I did a 1 hour seminar on string theory, I added lots of fun little things that get one wondering, and even the less motivated students in the class loved it. Its a very fun field, if you like that kind of stuff. And with 3 minutes, put out as many of the fun things as you can.

 

[hayabusaboston]

Ahk unfortunately my knowledge doesn't extend much past physics.

But umm, try doing something relevant and fun. How about genetics? You could go into the whole nature vs nurture debate.
To make things more interesting you could go into the studies of twins raised seperately ect. There's an interesting doco on SBS (the first part just ran a couple of days ago but you can download it or something).

As spiral said audience participation would be key (you could ask the audience if they share similar traits with their parents ect).

Your sig, que es la vida? Amigo, la vida es adquisicion!

 

[Sainteced]

Made a 3min speech on the ethics of abortion and managed to make my teacher teary. It's not hard if you have the tact.

One suggestion: =]

I recently finished reading an autobiographical account of Cory Friedman, a Tourette's sufferer (look up 'Med Head by James Patterson and Hal Friedman'). I found myself quite depressed when reading this book, not only unintended pain and suffering but the empty promises and total lack of a willingness to understand from the medical 'professionals'. It gave me an insight to how judgmental and unforgiving people can be, without reason.

 

[nightweaver066]

Space. How extravagant it is, the wonders, the mysteries, how it all came to be.

 

[plasticities]

Woo I went to nysf last year (sesh C) and the case with both speeches, impromptu and prepared isn't the content, it's the delivery. So as long as you speak loudly and clearly, make eye contact, don't use fill in words like 'umm' and 'uhh' you're all set. On the note of topics, some interesting ones were brain activity and dreaming during sleep and genetically inheritable gender disorders.

Some advice, don't make it too complicated because you want the audience to follow you easily and from memory the prepared science speech was 5 minutes not 3. I remember getting confused from all the info they sent out, but the impromptu is the 3 minute one.

Hope you have an amazing time, it's seriously the best thing ever!

 

[Carrotsticks]

Made a 3min speech on the ethics of abortion and managed to make my teacher teary. It's not hard if you have the tact.

Which teacher?

 

[Kimyia]

ooh, and canavan disease. a family donated tissue samples to this doctor who managed to develop a test for the disease and some hospital allow free genetic testing of children...but then the hospital patent the gene and demanded royalties for testing. so a point of discussion could be the patenting of our own human genes - do we have the right to our own DNA?

 

[Sainteced]

Which teacher?

the most recent science teacher who made the science squad.

 

[teeah]

OMG You're an NYSFie! What session did you attend?

(session B here )

It's a short speech, so it can't be too content heavy. It's for NYSF, audience will most probably be mainly kids in my interest group and some other adult science folk. I want it to be interesting, (and I know with public speaking that's a lot to do with presentation, which should be fine cause I'm used to 8 min impromptu debating speeches).

I keep changing my mind on the topic, things either seem too simple (like chemistry in chocolate) or too difficult to explain in speech forum. I think it'd be good to have a topic that had a good dabbling in the real world, and not just pure science.

Rep for any good suggestions

 

[LoveHateSchool]

^OMGGGG! I was Sesh B too I probably know you!!!