How to handle questions after your talk - 10 tips!

The Q&A after a talk or seminar (or thesis defense) usually is a source of anxiety because you can't really control what people will ask. Here's 10 tips that I find useful about handling questions.
#phdlife #phd #gradschool #doctorate

0:00 Intro
0:19 1) Know the basics and rationale of your study
1:18 2) You can steer questions (add discussion points to your slides)
2:28 3) Don't BS! say I don't know
3:01 4) Show you're open to input
3:55 5) Distinguish between I don' know and this is not known
4:34 6) Relate to something you do know
5:44 7) Practice Q&As with friends
6:22 8) Many questions is a good sign!
6:59 9) Deal with irritating questions and comments
8:17 10) It's normal to be nervous when all eyes are on you; don't second-guess your answers
10:23 Fin

Matthias Rillig, professor of ecology at Freie Universität Berlin, chats about life in academia.

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