How engineers can help educate the public

In making speeches or dealing with news media, engineers will be effective to the extent their language is understandable. Skill in avoiding the use of jargon can be developed with practice. Opportunities to talk to teachers are easily created and are especially valuable because of the teacher-student multiplier effect. A dual goal in public speaking is to tell the audience how you feel on an issue and to find out how the audience feels about it. Advice on dealing with news media is provided.