How can you effectively communicate complex earthquake engineering concepts to a non-technical audience?

1 Know your audience

The first step to communicate complex earthquake engineering concepts is to know your audience. What is their background, interest, and level of knowledge on the topic? What are their main concerns and questions? What are their expectations and goals? Knowing your audience will help you tailor your message, tone, and language to suit their needs and preferences. For example, if you are talking to a client who wants to build a resilient structure, you may focus on the benefits and costs of different earthquake engineering solutions. If you are talking to a policy maker who wants to improve the seismic safety of a city, you may highlight the challenges and opportunities of implementing earthquake engineering standards and practices.

3 Use visuals

The third step to communicate complex earthquake engineering concepts is to use visuals. Visuals can help you convey your message more effectively, as they can capture attention, enhance understanding, and stimulate emotions. You can use visuals such as diagrams, charts, graphs, maps, photos, videos, and animations to show how earthquake engineering works, what are the impacts of seismic hazards, and what are the outcomes of your project. You can also use visuals to compare and contrast different earthquake engineering options, scenarios, and results. However, make sure that your visuals are clear, accurate, and consistent with your message, and that you explain them properly.

4 Engage your audience

The fourth step to communicate complex earthquake engineering concepts is to engage your audience. Engaging your audience means making them interested, curious, and involved in your presentation. You can engage your audience by using storytelling techniques, such as setting the context, creating a plot, introducing characters, building suspense, and delivering a resolution. You can also engage your audience by asking questions, soliciting feedback, encouraging participation, and acknowledging their perspectives. For example, you can ask your audience to share their experiences or opinions on earthquake engineering, invite them to ask questions or make comments, and thank them for their attention and input.

5 Provide takeaways

The fifth step to communicate complex earthquake engineering concepts is to provide takeaways. Takeaways are the key points, messages, or actions that you want your audience to remember, understand, or do after your presentation. You can provide takeaways by summarizing your main arguments, highlighting your main findings, and recommending your main solutions. You can also provide takeaways by giving your audience some resources, references, or contacts to learn more about earthquake engineering. For example, you can provide your audience with a handout, a brochure, a website, or a contact person that contains more information on earthquake engineering.

6 Follow up

The sixth and final step to communicate complex earthquake engineering concepts is to follow up. Following up means staying in touch with your audience, answering their questions, addressing their concerns, and updating them on your project. You can follow up by sending an email, making a phone call, or arranging a meeting with your audience. You can also follow up by providing them with additional materials, reports, or results on earthquake engineering. For example, you can follow up by sending your audience a copy of your presentation, a summary of your project, or a feedback form on earthquake engineering.