Editions Cépaduès. Michel Bruneau is Professor Emeritus at the University of Maine. He created the Acoustics Laboratory of this university. Catherine Potel is Professor at the University of Maine.
Agent Majeur: What made you want to write this book?
Catherine Potel: At the end of a defense which did not go very well for the students, they told us: "If you taught us to write and to speak in public, we would do better". They already had training in report writing but were given by French teachers. They learned general writing rules there. But it was also necessary to teach them to "speak scientifically". With Michel Bruneau, who is Professor Emeritus, we decided to work together on this subject. We had, each according to his experience,
used to read, reread and correct student reports or listen to defenses.
Michel Bruneau: We started by creating a course together on this subject at the university. Then, over time, we wrote the book you read.
What do you advise your students?
Michel Bruneau: The main rule that we give them is that they must respect the reader. This means minimizing their reading time and optimizing their comprehension. The students think of doing a good scientific job. But if the written or oral presentation is not up to par, then this work is partly wasted.
What do you think are the main flaws in scientific communications?
Catherine Potel: Often it is incomprehensible. A scientist will use his vocabulary, that of his specialty. And, in general, a person from another specialty will not understand it.
Michel Bruneau: Another flaw, in my opinion, is in the body of the text of the written presentations. When the reader begins to read a new paragraph, the first 2-3 words of that paragraph should immediately instruct them on what to do next. It is reassuring for him to know what he is going to read. And so, to browse the document like a novel.
Catherine Potel: And then, the students often forget to go from the general to the particular. We must already explain the problem before going into details.
Michel Bruneau: When they have to give a 12-minute presentation, I tell my students: “If you have to spend 10 minutes explaining what you're talking about and only reserve 2 minutes for what you actually did, then do -the. »From the moment when the public understands what problem it is, how it fits into the technical or scientific, national or international fabric, in 1 or 2 minutes, we can convey the essential message of this that we did.
Did you pay attention while reading? Test yourself with this quiz!
1. In a written report, figures should:
A - be numbered in order of appearance in the text
B - include a legend
C - be called in the body of the text
2. Which of these clauses respects the punctuation rules:
A - (in England)
B - 99% of people
C - results: a draw
D - how many?
Answers taken from the book "The Art of Formula Explained to Scientists" :
1. A, B and C
2. C - For answer A, do not put a space after an opening parenthesis or before a closing parenthesis. For answer B, the percent must be preceded by a space. For answer D,
the question mark must be preceded by a space.
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