So.....an opportunity to practise those skills I learnt on the Presentation Skills course back in June.  I have been asked to do a short presentation at the BA Festival of Science here in Norwich, the session is about research which is going on in the community and involves the public.

Midweek, mid-morning, early September, in a venue in the middle of Norwich; a reasonable turnout of approximately 50 people, a mix of academics, PCT R&D, local researchers and members of the public.  My 5 minute slot was mid session, amazingly I felt reasonably calm; I remembered my lessons about how to stand i.e. not to wobble on intertwined legs in a nervous sort of way! I had to hold a mike which helped to occupy my hands and I talked.......I had no PowerPoint other than some background images so it was just down to me, I told the story of what my depression research is about and how it involves the patients plus a brief feedback on some of the preliminary findings from the questionnaire analysis.  Questions flowed, people seemed interested; there was also an opportunity for continued discussion at the coffee break and I had a fascinating conversation with a very knowledgeable gentleman who gave me some valuable information about a piece of work recently published on the SSRIs and the usefulness of the free online journal PLoS Medicine (I have now signed up for my e-alerts!).   I found it very reassuring to think that the research is considered to be of value by colleagues and depression sufferers as well as being an academic exercise to achieve a PhD; after all, I think research's foremost aim should be of clinical benefit.

As a result of that presentation I have now been asked to go along to PPIRes in mid-October to give the presentation again, this time though I will have a slightly longer slot.  Great news, means more practise for my presentation skills and also dissemination of the research.