iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Went on a walk today. Saw a good train. Thought you lot would appreciate.

A rusty old steam train from a low angle. There are trees and wild flowers around it.

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Mostly a quiet week for us what with the Easter break - but we did manage an in person team meeting!

Matt and Duncan in the sun in front of Edinburgh Castle

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

Setting up a conflict structure is great whenever you need to compare two things, call people to action, or persuade. It highlights the differences between the two situations, or outcomes. The audience invests in how will this resolve, will one side win?

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

An academic career grants A LOT of knowledge about your thing. Remember most people you talk to won't know the same things you know.

A straight line labled 'what you see'

a complex scribble labled 'what they see'

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

When communicating research you are constantly balancing complexity, clarity and speed. You can usually have 2/3 but not all. The most important is clarity.

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Ways to build trust throughout a presentation - Subtle 'authority drops' - Thank interaction honestly - Use data to back up you points - Stay calm and in control if anything goes wrong# - Show you want to be there

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

Academics love to add detail Audiences hate too much detail This is a core challenge of presentations. Between overly complex and incorrectly simple lies a magic space I call Useful simplicity. All you need to get the idea but not overwhelming.

4 pictures of a flower. On the right the most detailed on the left a blob with a stalk.

The two in the middle have ticks over them

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

When presenting data... MAKE IT EASY FOR THEM TO SEE THE IMPORTANT BIT

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

If you want to really really get better at presenting, training and courses will only take you so far. There comes a point where you need to DO it, get feedback and do it again. The feedback loop is what helps you improve.

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

People who learn scripts can get very caught up in saying the right word. To the point they stumble if they use a different one of the script. But is almost never words that matter... its the meaning you make, and there are lots of different routes to that meaning.

A yellow blob labelled 'start'

A yellow start labled 'meaning'

there are 3 different paths made of words which connect the two

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

If you want people to care about your data you have to show them the 'meaning'... This line is higher than this line....so what?? This spiky bit is cool... so what?? Data is an idicator of something, never forget to tell your audience what that something is!

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 29/12/2025

A pause in a presentation is great for your audience. It gives them time to process what you just said and builds anticipation for what you are about to say. You don't have to fill ALL the space with words.

Musical notes with a gap in the middle. above the gap is the word 'loading'

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 26/12/2025

You can communicate complex/detailed information slowly OR Simple information fast. You can't do complex info fast Presenting is usually a FAST medium. Do less stuff, slower!

a complex scribble linked to a slow snail.

a simple line linked to a fast jet

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

If most of the presentations you see are kinda boring... if you want to be better you have to be different. We won't get exciting energised presentations by doing the same as everyone else.

a pie chart where a small slice is labled 'not boring' and the rest is 'boring'

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

Eating cold crumble for breakfast while watching the snow fall feels like a vibe.

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

My Newsletter has over 500 researchers in it, all getting better at presentations every week! Come and join us thoughtful-motivator...

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

Do you want to get better at giving presentations and talks? Join over 700 researchers and get weekly tips, thoughts, and the odd rant straight to your inbox! thoughtful-motivator...

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

In DY training we are experts in presentation skills specifically for Universities. Want your PHD's and ECR's to be more confident at conferences? This is what we do 👇

four icons representing - doing the talk, slides, storytelling, and preparation

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

Want to know what we talk about in my Presenter Academy newsletter? Here is a sneak peak Interested, comment below and I'll send you the sign up link.

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 02/11/2025

Quite an epic bike ride today over the moors of Northumberland. It is getting cooolld though! 20 miles 1875ft elevation

A black bike leans in a wooden gate. A view of Rolling hills on the back ground

A herd of horses watches me go past. Mains blowing in the wind.

Rolling hills, Burt heather, and orange bracken as far as the eye can see

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

An academic career grants A LOT of knowledge about your thing. Remember most people you talk to won't know the same things you know.

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

When communicating research you are constantly balancing complexity, clarity and speed. You can usually have 2/3 but not all. The most important is clarity.

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

Today I shall mainly be at A PARTICLE ACCELERATOR!! only a tad full of geeky excitement!

Duncan in front of a sign which reads "synchrotron"

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 21/09/2025

Vitae conf 2025 here we come! Who's gonna be there?

Picture of Duncan on a train in a green check shirt

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 21/09/2025

Vitae conf 2025 here we come! Who's gonna be there?

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

NEW WORKSHOPS! Over the summer, Matt and I have totally rebuilt our workshop offer. Link in comments It was a chaotic process, involving many cups of tea and sticky notes! Get in touch if you want to chat about brining us to your institution to join the fight against shit academic presenting!

Screen grab of a document showing the workshops and the groups they are aimed at. Full PDF linked in comments

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

3 presentation lessons from K-pop demon hunters...👇 Jokes, I'm not that lame. Seriously though it's literally all about the power of authentic voice, not confirming to others expectations and badass swords. Do yourself a favour and go watch it.

Still from the K-pop demon hunters film. 3 women looking badass with various swords and cool colourful hair.

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

After an excellent meeting, I'm having a coffee shop working kinda day... it comes with cake!

A very yummy looking peach and orange cake with pink icing.

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 22/08/2025

Ive been on holiday. A lot of it has looked like this. It's been excellent 👌

My brother's cycling through a beautiful alpine valley

A dusty road snakes into the distant mountains

3 men in cycling gear pause on the road through a mediw

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

No you had a bowl of apple crumble and ice cream for lunch whilst sat in the garden. Cos your a grown up and no one can tell you what to do.

An empty bowl that used to have apple crumble and ice cream in it. In the garden

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

It has been something of a busy week! We've rebuilt all our workshops (keep an eye out for those getting announced). Sold more places for the Presentation Summer Camp - last chance to get tickets now! And had an excellent photoshoot with the brilliant Rachel McClumpha!

Matt covered in post-it notes, adds one to Duncan head and draws on it with intent!

Matt stands in front of a wall covered in post it's and scribbles.

Duncan Leaning on a beach ball smiling and holding out a hand

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

When communicating research you are constantly balancing complexity, clarity and speed. You can usually have 2/3 but not all. The most important is clarity.

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

This is somehow our plan for a new slides and data workshop! Matt and I are having a few days auditing our content and rebuilding workshops! Nothing like facilitating yourself when your a facilitator!

A mega white board sheet covered in post it notes. This is somehow our plan for a new slides and data workshop!

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

If most of the presentations you see are kinda boring... if you want to be better you have to be different. We won't get exciting energised presentations by doing the same as everyone else.

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

An academic career grants A LOT of knowledge about your thing. Remember most people you talk to won't know the same things you know.

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

My Newsletter has over 500 researchers in it, all getting better at presentations every week! Come and join us thoughtful-motivator...

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Do you want to get better at giving presentations and talks? Join over 700 researchers and get weekly tips, thoughts, and the odd rant straight to your inbox! thoughtful-motivator...

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

Holy shirt balls!!! It's hot!! I've just come out of an air conditioned training room that I've been in all day.... Been with the Rosalind Franklin institute looking at speaking as a strategy for impact in research. Which was excellent, then smacked round the chops by the sun!

Duncan making a face of shock and outrage.

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

In DY training we are experts in presentation skills specifically for Universities. Want your PHD's and ECR's to be more confident at conferences? This is what we do 👇

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

Want to know what we talk about in my Presenter Academy newsletter? Here is a sneak peak Interested, comment below and I'll send you the sign up link.

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

Sometimes the TV in my hotel has just the right amount of hdmi access... Chilling this eve before running a session for the Royal Meteorological Society tomorrow!

An Xbox controller with a TV in the background. On the screen is the title of builders gate 3

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

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Duncan Yellowlees @dyellowlees.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

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