Exceptional Presentations In Spite of PowerPoint: How to Communicate Your Science in the Digital Age

Accepted as a Career Development Workshop: AAAS 2019 Washington, DC

21368: Exceptional Presentations In Spite of PowerPoint: How to Communicate Your Science in the Digital Age

Session Description:

“Death by PowerPoint” is in the lexicon for good reason. Giving a great presentation is about engaging an audience, which requires understanding who that audience is and what they hope to gain by listening to you. In order to deliver a great presentation, you have to create outstanding presentation materials. How do you do this? Workshop presenters will illustrate best practices on how to communicate your science during formal presentations including webinars using storytelling and anecdotes, digital tools such as simple DIY graphics which can also be applied to science communication via social media, for informal verbal presentations and time management skills both for presentation preparation and for execution of the presentation.

Workshop Audience:

Undergraduate

Graduate Student

Postdoctoral Scholars

High-School Teacher

College and University Faculty

Early-Career Scientist

Mid-Career Scientist

Late-Career Scientist

Audience Interest Statement:

It is essential for scientists to possess strong written and verbal communication skills in the workplace with co-workers, when communicating with other researchers for knowledge mobilization, the public using broader impacts and to an audience of other scientists. This workshop will teach scientists how to communicate their science by creating engaging, impactful and interesting presentations for use in front a live audience and for presentation planning for webinars. There will be a graphics content creation tutorial with emphasis on digital and social tools and shortcuts, various what to do/what not to do scenarios, as well as interactive group activities that will require the audience to work together in teams to compete for the title of "The exceptional Powerpoint slide" accompanied by a timed short verbal presentation.

Participants:

Printed Materials:

Yes

Printed Materials Description:

There will be a one page double sided handout that will provide a workshop outline including key points and instructions for the interactive activities.

Coordinator:

Jennifer L. Maclachlan

Managing Director

PID Analyzers, LLC

2 Washington Circle #4

Sandwich, MA

USA

@pidgirl

Co-coordinator:

Mark Jones

Executive External Strategy and Communications Fellow

The Dow Chemical Company

627-, 693 Washington St

Midland, MI

USA

@mjphd 

Sandwich STEM Academy Clean Energy Festival 2018

Dr. Jack Driscoll (@pidguy), President of PID Analyzers, a Sandwich STEM Academy Science Advisory Board Member and STEM Academy grandparent, was an exhibitor at the STEM Academy Clean Energy Day

This event was funded through Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, through a grant that was written and facilitated by the Sandwich STEM Academy Science and Engineering teachers and took place at Sandwich High School for Sandwich students in Grades 6, 7 and 8 on Tuesday, May 22nd (9:30am-2pm) and showcased and celebrated renewable energies. The Clean Energy Fair’s mission is to promote sustainable and renewable energy through hands-on education. The event included a brief welcoming ceremony, an energy carnival, hands-on learning energy activities, exhibitor booths, a “passport” to record their learning experiences, and a gift bag for all students. Grade 7 and 8 students attended a brief welcoming ceremony in the auditorium, then headed to the gym, where they spent a total of 75 minutes, rotating through three stations: the energy carnival, exhibitors’ booths, and hands-on energy activities.

 PID Analyzers, a Sandwich-based manufacturing company, was among the 10 exhibitors at STEM Academy Clean Energy Festival. 
PID Analyzers' exhibit was on energy storage with batteries used to power their portable analyzers. Batteries included lead acid (old type), NIMH, LiPO, and Li ion. The students were very excited about the event and an 11th grader taking photos and videos said that she wished that she had something like this when she was in the 7th grade.

GC/FUV for analysis of ambient (ppb level) greenhouse gases

ABSTRACT SYMPOSIUM NAME: Joint Symposium of the Separation Science Subdivisions

ABSTRACT SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM AREA NAME: ANYL

CONTROL ID: 2980438

PRESENTATION TYPE: Oral

TITLE: GC/FUV for analysis of ambient (ppb level) greenhouse gases

AUTHORS (FIRST NAME, LAST NAME): Jennifer L. Maclachlan1, John N. Driscoll1

INSTITUTIONS (ALL): 1. PID Analyzers, LLC, Centerville, MA, United States.

ABSTRACT BODY:  Abstract: We have recently improved the sensitivity of our far UV absorbance detector by nearly an order of magnitude so that it can now detect ppb levels of methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2). We have added a concentrator to our Portable GC 312 so that we can further improve the accuracy of the measurement. Nearly a decade ago the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) required large emitters of heat-trapping emissions to begin collecting greenhouse gas data under a new reporting system since CH4, N2O, & , CO2 , since these gases absorb strongly in the infrared trapping heat in the atmosphere and affecting the temperature on the Earth. These gases have been measured using expensive long path infrared analyzers or complex gas chromatography using as many as three detectors and three valves. Our far UV absorbance detector is more simple, is capable of measuring all three gases and is a less complex alternative to existing methods.

Photoionization detector with sealed or windowless discharges for ppb detection of VOC’s or and or fixed gases

ABSTRACT SYMPOSIUM NAME: Advances in Sensors and Biosensors for Environmental Monitoring

ABSTRACT SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM AREA NAME: ENVR
CONTROL ID: 2976537PRESENTATION TYPE: Oral Only

TITLE: Photoionization detector with sealed or windowless discharges for ppb detection of VOC’s or and or fixed gases

AUTHORS (FIRST NAME, LAST NAME): John N. Driscoll2, Jennifer L. Maclachlan1INSTITUTIONS (ALL): 1. PID Analyzers, LLC, Centerville, MA, United States. 
2. PID Analyzers, LLC, Sandwich, MA, United States. 

ABSTRACT BODY: Abstract: The Photoionization detector (PID) with a 10.6 eV lamp and a sealed window has been shown to be 50-80 times more sensitive for aromatic hydrocarbons than the flame ionization detector (FID) but the 10.6 PID does not respond to small molecules like formaldehyde, chloro alkanes, MeOH, C2-C4 alkanes, The 11.7 PID will respond to many of these compounds with sub ppm detection limits but it has a lithium fluoride window that results in decreased transmission after absorption of the photons at 11.6 and 11.8 eV. This color center formation limits the useful lifetime to 700-800 hours on the gas chromatograph (GC). We have designed a windowless PID option that uses the same base (ion chamber) and can easily be exchanged with the sealed 10.6 eV lamp when a different application is needed. We will compare the sensitivity of a sealed 11.7 lamp with the windowless lamp. The windowless argon lamp will not have 11.7 sealed lamp transmission problem but now it becomes very important to maintain a constant (high purity) argon flow and constant discharge conditions. If we change the discharge gas from argon to helium, we will be able to have a detector with an ionization source with an energy of 20.2 eV that will be able to detect organic, inorganic and fixed gases at low ppb levels. We will compare the results for the sealed PID with the windowless PID for a number of gas mixtures.

Analysis and identification of ppb levels of VOC’s in ambient air via GC-PID-FID

ABSTRACT SYMPOSIUM NAME: Analytical Division Poster Session

ABSTRACT SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM AREA NAME: ANYL

CONTROL ID: 2980432

PRESENTATION TYPE: Poster

TITLE: Analysis and identification of ppb levels of VOC’s in ambient air via GC-PID-FID

AUTHORS (FIRST NAME, LAST NAME): John N. Driscoll1, Jennifer L. Maclachlan1

INSTITUTIONS (ALL): 1. PID Analyzers, LLC, Centerville, MA, United States.

ABSTRACT BODY:  Abstract: We have developed a GC system with a PID/FID in-series that will concentrate an ambient air sample so that low ppb or even ppt levels of VOCs in ambient air can be detected. We have shown that the PID (10.6 EV) has a response that increases with the number of double bonds while the FID does not have the same dependence. All these structures have the same response for the FID. This feature can be utilized to identify alkanes, alkenes and aromatic hydrocarbons in a concentrated ambient air sample. Using a capillary column, the PID /FID ratios were 15 (alkanes), 30 (alkenes) and 75 (aromatics) respectively. This technique is more sensitive, simpler, easier to maintain and, of course, less expensive than a continuous GC/MS system for ambient air measurements.

#AIHceEXP: The @pidgirl experience

Photo by Jennifer Morris Photography

#AIHceEXP May 20-23 2018 Philadelphia, PA

The primary reason that we attend the #AIHceEXP annually is to exhibit our suite of gas detection products.

Featured real-time detection products included: 

First level screening tools for rapid identification of the source of the spill/smell/area of concern-Total VOC monitoring: Model 102+ PID with multi-sensor options and Model 115 FID





Second level screening tools for separation of components where general knowledge of types of contaminants/chemicals are being used: Continuous monitors: Model 112
(PID/FID or TCD).
Hand-Held GC: Model 121

Third level tools for sophisticated monitoring:
Model 312 Portable Gas Chromatograph with PC on board and dual detector capability-ideal for applications where the user can eliminate sending samples to the lab
Model 301C: Process Analyzer for 24/7 data reporting of complex matrices.

Nearly everyone who came by my booth at #AIHceEXP wanted to know what makes our PID lamps last so long? How do we have an 11.7eV lamp that operates for 500 hours? The answer is simple: We developed the technology and have, since 1973, had a reputation in the gas and vapor detection industry for manufacturing durable, accurate and reliable instrumentation. While there are commercially available products that are in smaller and in sleeker packages, our competitively priced PID remains the most sensitive and selective on the market. Interested in trading in your old PID and upgrading to an HNU? Contact me today.

My father, Jack Driscoll, and I are also members of the Real-Time Detection Systems Committee which meets in-person at this meeting. This is a very active committee and although there was a 6am start time for this group, the room was full! Additionally, I moderated an education session for the Real-Time Detection Systems Committee programming titled: Studies in Real-Time Detection Systems: Monitoring Exposures. This session had over a hundred people at it and was broadcast live to the virtual conference attendees. One of the speakers in the session, Phil Smith, who is a longtime colleague and friend of our family, was inducted as an American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) Fellow at the Mark of Excellence Breakfast!

Photo by Jennifer Morris Photography

I've been Chair of the AIHA Teen Workplace Safety Task Force since September 2017 and we had our first in-person meeting at #AIHceEXP. This is a grass-roots effort that is under the AIHA Government Relations umbrella. We are currently seeking additional task force members and if educating teens in your community about workplace safety and taking legislative action in your state to require that teens receive workplace safety as part of their educational curriculum in schools peaks your interest, please contact me to learn more.

AIHA excels at organizing and facilitating networking events! From the Catalyst Merry-Go-Round to the MSA Power Hour, I logged lots of networking at this conference!

I even managed a quick visit to LOVE Park on my way between #AIHceEXP social events!

Talking safety: Why safety matters

Invited presentation on the PRES track at #ACSBoston

Talking safety: Why safety matters
by Jennifer Maclachlan, PID Analyzers, LLC

Maclachlan is the Chair of the American
Industrial Hygiene Association's Teen
Workplace Safety Task Force

Safety is a core value for many professional societies including the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA). Through education, training and leading by example, members of the ACS and AIHA can create what ACS President, Peter Dorhout, has coined an "ethos of safety". 40 young workers die each year, and 60,000 more are rushed to the emergency room due to workplace injuries. Educating students about workplace hazards that include but are not limited to chemical, electrical, physical (fall, trip, slip), emotional (includes verbal abuse, bullying etc.) and more using tools like the National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH) Talking Safety curriculum and abbreviated materials known as Safety Matters, developed jointly by NIOSH and AIHA, member volunteers of AIHA and ACS can introduce these to teachers, students and legislators in their own communities. Communication about ACS resources such as the Guidelines for Chemical Laboratory Safety in Secondary School and Academic Institutions will be addressed as well as other outreach opportunities that ACS can leverage to support safety cultures in 2018 and beyond.