This document provides guidance on crafting effective elevator pitches to communicate scientific messages to different audiences through various media platforms. It stresses that elevator pitches should be under 2 minutes and focus on interesting problems, solutions conveyed through stories and analogies, and why the topic matters. The document also emphasizes practicing pitches, getting feedback, and tailoring messages for specific audiences like policymakers or the general public.

1. Conveying Your Message
THE ELEVATOR PITCH
IAN ARMSTRONG

2. How to Communicate to the Public?
 Who is your audience?
 In person (classes, presentations, science fairs, conferences, etc.)
 Through a media platform

3. Main Media Platforms
 Legacy media
 Radio
 Newspapers
 TV
 “New” or digital media
 Social media (or maybe just… the internet)
 Podcasts
 Videos
 Blogs
 VR

4. Utilizing Media Sources
 Each requires a different approach
 Digital media – Try things. Experiment.
 #realtimechem on Twitter
 Medium
 Legacy media – You need an elevator pitch (written and spoken) to get you in the door

5. Crafting the “Message”
 Who is your audience?
 Policy-maker?
 TV?
 Newspaper?
 Radio?
 What makes this interesting, or news worthy?
 What makes it meaningful to “mom and pop” and society?
 <2 minutes

6. The Elevator Pitch – The Problem
 State a Problem – Problem of interest without jargon
 Think of this as the “background”, but make it interesting
 Have a hook. “A verbal slap”. Why should people care?
 Stories, not data.
 Use colorful language. Get out of the technical writing mindset.
 Short statements that are “pithy” carry high impact

7. The Elevator Pitch – Presenting the
Solution
 The solution is… You. (and your work)
 Use analogies!
 UpGoer 5 – a bit extreme, but valuable exercise.
 https://xkcd.com/1133/
 http://splasho.com/upgoer5/

8. The Elevator Pitch – Am I Done?
 Practice it. Does it interest you?
 Does it interest your friends?
 Develop multiple versions for different audiences
 Record yourself. 70:20:10 rule
 70% how you look
 20% how you sound
 10% what you say

9. The Good and Not So Good
 Shoutout: Simon Sinek, “The Golden Circle”
 Why? How? What?
 The Not So Good
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqLjyY4yQ5Y
 The Good
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBa0cnsRMUQ

10. Useful Links
 OU 3 Minute Thesis (A bit longer than a typical elevator pitch)
 2016 1st Place, Sean McGraw (Phyics)
 And how he prepared
 2017 Karie Whitman
 2017 Rebecca Totton
 2017 Enakshi Roy
 2017 Ian Armstrong