Speaking Technically: A Handbook for Scientists, Engineers and Physicians on How to Improve Technical Presentations

This is a concise guide for anyone who has ever found the prospect of speaking technically to be daunting.The author draws upon his observations of people speaking technically in after-dinner speeches; conference presentations; coping with visitors; inaugural lectures; industrial presentations; industrial tourism; lectures to students; presentations to funding bodies; project reports; public inquiries; school talks; section and departmental meetings; telephone calls and consultations.He offers the reader practical tools and principles for organising information and making technical communication lively and memorable.Complete with highlighted points, checklists and review points for easy reference and practice, Speaking Technically is for anyone who has ideas and information to communicate, wants to do so effectively, finds the process stressful and has little time to prepare.

Sinclair Goodlad is Director of Humanities Programme and Senior Lecturer in Presentation of Technical Information at the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of London. He is also a Fellow of the Society for Research into Higher Education.

Several of his previous books deal with theoretical issues which underlie the matters examined in Speaking Technically, namely A Sociology of Popular Drama (1971), Science for Non-scientists (1973), Conflict and Consensus in Higher Education (1976), Education for the Professions: Quis Custodiet? (editor, 1984), Peer Tutoring (with Beverley Hirst, 1989) and The Quest for Quality: Sixteen Forms of Heresy in Higher Education (1995).

Dr Goodlad teaches courses in the Communication of Scientific Ideas at Imperial College and runs post-experience courses on "Speaking Technically" for scientists and engineers from industry and the civil service, and for university lecturers.