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A soulless beach volleyball, a flashy introductory video or a touching anecdote. PhD students are increasingly taking the opportunity to explain what their research is about in understandable language preceding their defence. This so-called Laymen's Talk makes the research more accessible to their audience and makes PhD students feel that their research matters. They can undergo training to ensure they are well prepared.

For a long time, Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ didn't have lay talks. Because of the many PhDs, the talks could not be fitted in and the manpower to arrange it was lacking. Since August 2024, it is possible again; thanks to a joint initiative of the Utrecht PhD party, the PhD network Prout and the Pedel. The lay talk fits into the university's current policy of promoting accessibility in scientific research. Moreover, the facilities are now in place.

Enthusiastic
PhD students are enthusiastic. External PhD student Hendarin Mouselli very consciously chooses to give a lay talk. ‘It is a nice way to tell what I've done. I am a lawyer and the research I do is quite tough. It's nice if you can present your research in an accessible way, so that the audience can also connect to it. For example, I start with a video explaining a specific situation. But the talk is also a nice warm-up for myself. The worst tension is relieved.’

‘During the training you learn to look at your own research with completely different eyes’

Metaphors and attributes
The Centre for Science and Culture offers PhD students a training in which they learn what they should not, but more importantly, should do during the lay talk. Interest in this training is high: for the first training a quarter of the PhD students who enrolled signed up. Trainer Lucas Keijning: ‘PhD students from every faculty attended, both Dutch and English speakers. In the training course, I help PhD students make contact with the audience. No technical jargon, but rather using metaphors and attributes, that kind of thing. One PhD student returned that the lay talk had made his defence more light-hearted and had given him control over his research. It helps PhD students in their professional career as they learn to convey the sense of ‘what I do is relevant’, take ownership and implement their new communication techniques. In that sense, the lay talk contributes to the bigger picture.’

Good exercise
According to Hendarin, the lay talk can be even more than a relaxing appetiser for family and friends. ‘The lay talk, like the defence, can be followed online. If Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ also offers the possibility to re-watch them, it could become interesting for more people. Besides, it's a good exercise. I can use the talk in presentations I give about my research and I'll take the tips from the training with me in future talks. After all, during the training you learn to look at your own research with completely different eyes.’

Hendarin Mouselli is an employment law solicitor and co-founder of VRF Advocaten.
Lucas Keijning is a science communicator, trainer and presenter.

Text: Martine Jansen
Photo's: Emma Pot and Evert Doorn