Chapter 11 Talk about popular science speech①

Popular science lectures are an important means of popularizing scientific and technological knowledge. ① Originally contained in "Science Popularization Writers Talk about Creation", Geological Press, 1980 edition. There are many ways to popularize scientific and technological knowledge: writing popular science articles (including scientific literary and artistic works, popular science books, etc.), shooting scientific and educational films, holding popular science exhibitions, and holding popular science lectures or reports.The latter two are inseparable from "science popularization lectures", which is an oral method of popularizing science.

Popular science lectures have always been very popular in foreign countries. Many famous scientists are very enthusiastic about using this method to publicize their academic views and popularize scientific knowledge. Our country has also paid attention to this aspect of work in recent years.As long as the popular science lecturers give their lectures well, they can get unexpected results. "Yin Yang, Yin Yang and Tai Chi". The other is that Tai Chi is based on Wuji, and contains "being born in." There are many examples of this at home and abroad.Huxley, a famous British evolutionist, is an enthusiastic supporter and propagandist of Darwin's theory. He once gave lectures to workers in London many times, propagating and defending Darwin's theory of evolution, advocating "the theory of common ancestors of man and ape", which was well received by the working people. welcome and support. In 1863, his speeches were compiled into a book and published, which is the book "Mankind's Place in Nature" which still does not lose its scientific value.

In recent years, I have often used the opportunity of field work to give popular science lectures to various types of audiences on issues of human origin and anthropology. Now I will only talk about my experience in this regard based on my own practice, and discuss the principles of popular science lectures. Some laws and characteristics, and also talk about the relationship between popular science speeches and general science creations, as well as the scientific issues in popular science speeches. I used the opportunity of field work to give popular science lectures. On the one hand, it was to publicize the knowledge about the origin of human beings, get rid of superstition, pay attention to science, and promote dialectical materialism and historical materialism; It is hoped that more valuable materials can be found as clues to the remains of ancient human activities.In particular, the latter is quite similar to engaging in geological work.

What are the characteristics of popular science speeches?What regularity? 1.Popular science lectures take up a short time, while publicity spreads widely. A popular science lecture can be given in just two or three hours, enabling audiences ranging from dozens to hundreds or even thousands to receive popular science education on a scientific topic or a scientific field. An economical and effective means of science popularization.Especially geologists, who are in the field all year round, have a lot of mobility, and popular science lectures are a good way to popularize geological science and technology knowledge.

2.Popular science lectures are time sensitive. This is self-evident, just like news reports, timely and fast, especially in terms of academic exchanges, it is more convenient and beneficial.For example, inviting relevant professionals at home and abroad to give popular science lectures can enable the local or departmental audience to understand and learn a lot of new knowledge in a timely manner, especially for major scientific events, a report meeting should be held in time to introduce them , to attract the attention and attention of the majority of scientific workers. 3.If a popular science lecture is done well, it will give people a more direct and profound feeling than reading an article.

For the audience (that is, "readers"), the feeling of listening and watching is different, especially, the content of the popular science speech is the speaker's major, or his own personal experience, and it is bound to be eloquent As for the talk, the eloquence is beautiful. If it can be vivid and vivid, it will make people feel as if they are on the scene, and the speech will achieve better results. 4.Popular science lectures are easy to help the audience grasp the key points and essentials of scientific and technological knowledge. The speaker can make some choices about the content of the speech. The key parts can be elaborated in more detail, so that the audience can accept more aspects of the content. The process is quite "rhythmic".According to the content of the speech, it is often complicated and sometimes brief, sometimes more and sometimes less, although this can also be the case when writing articles, but compared with oral preaching, the effect is very different.

5.Speakers can communicate directly with the masses, question them at any time, and discuss issues with each other, which is unmatched by other popular science propaganda methods. I can give an example to illustrate the above characteristics of popular science speeches. In April 1979, I went to Chengdu to participate in the Sichuan Provincial Science Popularization Creation Experience Exchange Meeting. During the meeting, at the invitation of the Geological Department, I gave a popular science lecture on ""Savages" and the Origin of Human Beings". Employees, leading comrades, teachers and students of the School of Geology, etc.In this popular science lecture, I mainly talked about two issues, one is the current research status of investigating "savages"; the other is the current research status and basic theoretical issues related to the origin of human beings.The two are not unrelated. When talking about the significance of the "savage" research, it is natural to closely link the relationship between the two.

The lecture was not long, just over two hours, but it involved a wide range of content and a large amount of knowledge.I introduced in detail the situation of tracking "savages" in Shennongjia primitive forest area in Hubei in 1977, and at the same time briefly introduced the activities of investigating "savages" in other areas at home and abroad, so that the audience can basically understand the general situation in this field Condition.As for the origin of human beings, it focuses on the dynamics of the 1970s and the new understanding of some theoretical issues on the origin of human beings.I followed the clue of the human evolutionary genealogy and introduced it from far to near. I not only talked about the insights in the 1950s, but also talked about how the academic circles came to understand the genealogical relationship of human evolution with the continuous discovery of new human fossils in the 1970s. Gained new perspectives, established new concepts, etc.In the process of human origin, how the essential characteristics of human beings are formed, and a brief and focused introduction is also made.For example, when talking about tracking "savages", it is related to the issue of human uprightness, because witnesses generally report that "savages" are upright and look like apes.What kind of animal is this?How did it walk upright?If it can be "captured", can it provide valuable clues to the formation of human upright walking?This raises the introduction of the "savage" issue to a certain academic position, rather than simply introducing a matter that is of interest to a broad audience.In the course of my speech, I help the audience grasp the key points and benefit from it. I talk directly with the audience, question them at any time, and inspire each other.

Such a popular science lecture with so much content was completed in a very limited time, and I was in Chengdu for a short period of time. The geological department found me in time to talk about this aspect, which really reflected the characteristics of popular science lectures.We are engaged in paleoanthropological research and have a close relationship with comrades engaged in geology. For me, such popular science lectures are not only obligatory to popularize relevant knowledge, but more importantly, to promote and mobilize more comrades to care about and participate in this aspect. Work.Comrades engaged in geological exploration, fighting in the mountains and mountains as adults, are likely to encounter various strange animals.They often come into contact with fellow villagers and can hear a lot of reflections about strange animals.As long as you pay attention, I believe there will be more and more valuable discoveries.

Later, I sorted out the content of the popular science lectures and wrote several popular science essays, which were published in "Chengdu Science and Technology News", "Sichuan Science and Technology News" and "Geological Front".Some of the essays in the collection of scientific knowledge essays "Wolf Boy·Snowman·Fire Fossil" which will be published by Tianjin People's Publishing House are based on the manuscripts of popular science lectures. What aspects should be paid attention to when conducting popular science lectures in order to obtain better results?This is the so-called "method" problem, I think there are the following aspects:

1.Popular science speeches should be lively and lively, and should not be too serious and rigid. This requires popular science speakers to use concise and vivid language, and it is best to have a certain literary quality and be able to speak in literary language.In order to make it easy for the audience to understand and grasp the content of the speech, try to set up a blackboard and write along with the lecture, especially scientific terms and terms, and give simple explanations.When conditions permit, auxiliary teaching aids such as objects, models, diagrams and slides should also be provided.In order to find ancient cultural relics (such as stone tools) and ancient animal remains (such as fossils), we prepared some real objects and let the audience watch while speaking.In the Yuanmou Basin in Yunnan, we introduced the polished stone tools to the masses. Later, based on the clues reflected by the masses, we found many important Neolithic sites. For more boring content, there should be interspersed in the speech process, such as interspersed with some short stories, allusions and anecdotes.For the theoretical part, the reasoning must be thorough, but it should be concise and to the point.But from different angles, from both positive and negative aspects, don't talk about the same content and say the same thing over and over again, thinking that you can explain it thoroughly, but it is actually counterproductive and annoying. The method of holding a lecture meeting can be more flexible. If time permits, it is not necessary for the speaker to speak from the beginning to the end. You can leave a period of time for the audience to ask questions, answer questions, or add content at the request of the audience. Mutual discussions and simple debates on different views will make the venue more active.Some speeches can be too serious and rigid, especially if the speaker is preaching and lifeless, so that the effect is not good. 2.A popular science speech depends on the target audience and must be targeted. I have talked about the origin of human beings to general audiences, professionals, ethnic minorities, university teachers and students, and even elementary school students in mountainous areas.In order to achieve better results in popular science lectures, you cannot speak the same way to all kinds of audiences. You must consider their requirements and acceptance, as well as the purpose you hope to achieve through popular science lectures.Therefore, the same content can have different presentation methods, methods and different emphases. Also be good at seizing the moment. At the beginning of 1976, when I was inspecting the Xiaolongtan Coal Mine in Kaiyuan, Yunnan, there was a movie in the evening, and most of the mine workers went to watch it. We used the time before the movie to give a concise science lecture.Because in the 1950s, tooth fossils of ancient apes were found in the coal seams here, which is very meaningful for exploring the distant ancestors of human origin.In recent years, because the work has not been done well, there are quite few discoveries. At the same time, new coal fields are being developed here, so we mainly talked about ancient apes, and the audience is mainly miners.Seizing the opportunity and being targeted, the comrade miners sent some animal fossils the next day, and said that they should pay attention to collecting them when mining coal in the future, maybe there will be fossils of ancient apes found. 3.Popular science lectures should pay attention to the accuracy of science. What needs to be emphasized is that we should not think that a speech cannot be seen in words, and that it will be blown away as soon as it has been said, unlike "black words on white paper", which can be credibly spoken if there is evidence to check. This is absolutely unacceptable.If you don't do it well, you will spread falsehoods.Talking is propaganda.The popular science lectures are well-spoken and highly appealing.The correct things can make people deeply educated, and the wrong concepts will also make people suffer a lot, so we must treat them with a cautious attitude. As a means of science popularization, science lectures have their shortcomings after all.Due to the short time, or the audience is relatively unfamiliar with the content, sometimes it is inevitable that the expected effect may not be received.It may be advisable to distribute some speech outlines and the like before the speech, or organize and print the speeches in time afterwards to make up for this deficiency. What is the relationship between popular science lectures and general science creation?In fact, "science popularization speech" is one aspect of what we usually call "science popularization creation", and they are quite closely related.According to my experience in both popular science lectures and popular science creations in recent years, I have the following understanding of the relationship between the two: 1.Popular science lectures are a good guide to popular science creation and even scientific research. Writing, whether it is literary creation or popular science creation, is actually writing "words".Popular science lectures can exercise your speaking skills, and can exercise you to express complex principles and phenomena in simple and concise language, so that your audience (that is, future "readers") can understand and accept it.If you can do this, it shows that your speaking ability has improved, and your writing ability has also improved accordingly.If you can speak clearly in popular science lectures, you can write clearly; if you talk upside down and babble, your articles will be messy and lengthy. "Writing like a person"!Of course, there are exceptions, that is, some people write articles well, but they may not speak well, but most of them are not good at speaking, and seldom are long-winded. Many people who are good at speaking have this experience: by speaking to audiences who are not engaged in this profession, they often make their original ambiguity gradually clear.Huxley once said: "The experience of popular speeches made me have to use simple language to teach those who have not received professional education. This is the best way to clarify some ambiguities in my thoughts. "①When I introduced my experience in popular science creation, I mentioned that the same is true for popular science creation.I talked about some theoretical issues on the origin of human beings. For example, what is the internal cause of human origin from a philosophical point of view? I was not very clear at the beginning, but there is always something elusive to explain this in my vague thinking. , which is difficult to express.This is an important topic in the study of natural philosophy. It is through popular science lectures, in order to express my own views and let others understand my thoughts, that some originally vague places gradually become clear.Later, I expressed it in the popular science book "The Story of Human Origin"②, and then wrote the academic paper "A Preliminary Exploration of the Internal Causes of Human Origin"③ to fully expound my views. ①Quoted from the book "Humanity's Place in Nature", with emphasis added by the author. ② In 1977, it was published by Yunnan People's Publishing House. ③ Published in "Paleontebrate and Paleoanthropology" Journal 1977 No. 4. The fact is that when writing popular science articles, it may not be possible to write clearly, but through many popular science lectures, these ambiguities have been clarified. With such a practical foundation, more mature popular science articles and even academic papers have also been produced . Popular science lectures make the speaker and the audience mingle, and can understand the requirements of the audience (and future readers) in a timely manner, hear opinions from all sides, and get inspiration directly from the audience, so that many new writing topics will appear.When I wrote the book "How Man Knows His Own Origin", it was during the process of lecturing on the origin of human beings that many people really wanted to know how people know and explore their own origin, so I started writing this book. 2.Popular science lectures enable us who are engaged in popular science creation to accumulate more information and acquire knowledge in more fields. Since the audience comes from various positions, they ask various questions about your speech content from their own perspectives and ask for answers.Therefore, in addition to clarifying what you want to talk about, you also have to answer inquiries from various perspectives, and perhaps have debates with people with different viewpoints, which makes you unable to be satisfied and limited to what you are specialized in.Take me for example, I am engaged in the study of ancient humans. Professionally, I am only limited to the study of human bones, but in order to give a good lecture on the origin of human beings and the evolution process of primitive humans, I must master physical anthropology and prehistoric archaeology. , ethnology, geology and other aspects of the relevant basic knowledge.It is also in the case of accumulating a large amount of data that it is possible to write comprehensive popular science works, such as "The Story of Human Origin", "How Man Knows His Own Origin" and other books. 3.Engaging in popular science lectures is a good means to improve the level of popular science creation. Talk about what you wrote in front of the audience first, and listen to the feedback, which will definitely benefit you a lot. This is a good way to directly test popular science creation before it is officially published. Finally, let’s talk about the scientific nature of popular science lectures, which is also a common problem in popular science works. No matter the popular science works in writing or the popular science lectures spoken by mouth, the scientific nature is firstly manifested in the accuracy of the scientific content, and many works are lacking in this point.At present, there are two kinds of personnel engaged in science popularization work: one is professional workers; the other is non-professional workers.The former has been engaged in science and technology professional work for a long time, especially for his professional science popularization work, generally speaking, the scientific nature of the content is mostly not a problem.Since the latter is not very familiar with the professional content, it is inevitable that there will be various problems in the scientific nature. This is also a social problem, which is caused by the low level of science and technology culture of our entire nation. However, once he transcends his own major and involves other majors, the problem of lack of scientific nature will appear more or less in popular science works. Although we cannot demand too much that popular science works and lectures are flawless, at least we cannot introduce some wrong concepts.I think, when creating or lecturing on a subject field that you are not very familiar with, you might as well ask comrades who are familiar with this subject field to have a look at the work first, and check it, it is better than taking the liberty to release it. Engaging in popular science lectures or popular science writing must have a scientific attitude.Without a serious scientific attitude, there can be no scientific works.The correct method often comes with the correct attitude, which is also a reflection of the political cultivation, quality and academic level of comrades engaged in science popularization work.We must arm the masses with full political enthusiasm, a high sense of responsibility for the realization of the four modernizations, a serious and serious scientific attitude, beautiful and moving expressions, and rich scientific knowledge, so as to greatly improve the scientific and cultural level of the entire nation. Do science work.