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Present Around Our Worlds

James Shaw
We are now into a new round of Present Around The World (PATW) competitions in which groups of our younger members each make short presentation at various centres around the world.


I wonder if there is scope for adopting this format and extending it to the wider membership?


We are fortunate that there are people prepared to give presentations at local centres that last around an hour. Usually they are 'up to the minute', informing us about new advances in technology. That tends to restrict presentations to those 'on the leading edge'. However there must be many interesting aspects of technology that might be routine to the specialist but that are unknown to the wider population. There must also be many people with a good tale to tell but who haven't got the resources to stage an hour long event but who would be quite happy to work within the ten-minute format of PATW, especially if was more a chat or conversation rather than a competition.


What I have in mind then is that local centres should stage an event where several members agree to do a short talk each, so as to make up a session equivalent in time to a normal event. There doesn't need to be a competitive element, the aim is to be encouraging, not intimidating! Not only could such an event be interesting to members but it could 'open the window' to schoolchildren etc. as to the range of activities that make up the various 'worlds' of engineers.


Any thoughts?
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    Maurice,

    As you imply there are two aspects here, the first is getting audiences for 'normal' events and the second getting people to take part in a multi-presenter event. I assume that a good 'home crowd' would attend most events regardless of the subject.


    Perhaps the IET should be surveying the membership to find out why they don't attend events? It is a failing of many organisations to only seek to find out why their 'customers' are happy while ignoring those that are unhappy, let alone finding out why some of the unhappy aren't even customers. This isn't a criticism of local organisers who do an amazing job of putting together a programme of events year after year. They put the work in and I'm sure it is appreciated by all the attendees but what makes other non-attendees?


    As to getting people to do 'mini-presentations', I'm not sure that incentives are needed, it goes against the non-competitive spirit that I have in mind as that would allow more freedom in choice of format. If one speaker feels that 15 minutes is needed and another only wants five that would be fine. Again this is an area that the IET could take action 'from the top' to encourage. There must be lots of good experiences 'out there' and even some latent talent! My idea was also to try and encourage an interest in the history of technology, something that rarely makes an appearance at a 'normal' event.


    This is an idea that ultimately has to be executed at a local level but could be attempted anywhere around the world. Which centre will be the first to try it? Perhaps the IET could provide an incentive for that!
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  • 0
    Maurice,

    As you imply there are two aspects here, the first is getting audiences for 'normal' events and the second getting people to take part in a multi-presenter event. I assume that a good 'home crowd' would attend most events regardless of the subject.


    Perhaps the IET should be surveying the membership to find out why they don't attend events? It is a failing of many organisations to only seek to find out why their 'customers' are happy while ignoring those that are unhappy, let alone finding out why some of the unhappy aren't even customers. This isn't a criticism of local organisers who do an amazing job of putting together a programme of events year after year. They put the work in and I'm sure it is appreciated by all the attendees but what makes other non-attendees?


    As to getting people to do 'mini-presentations', I'm not sure that incentives are needed, it goes against the non-competitive spirit that I have in mind as that would allow more freedom in choice of format. If one speaker feels that 15 minutes is needed and another only wants five that would be fine. Again this is an area that the IET could take action 'from the top' to encourage. There must be lots of good experiences 'out there' and even some latent talent! My idea was also to try and encourage an interest in the history of technology, something that rarely makes an appearance at a 'normal' event.


    This is an idea that ultimately has to be executed at a local level but could be attempted anywhere around the world. Which centre will be the first to try it? Perhaps the IET could provide an incentive for that!
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