STEM speakers often grapple with the overwhelming complexity of technical content

Here are three detailed ways STEM professionals can avoid this without sacrificing accuracy or depth.

Use the “Power of Three” to Chunk Information

Instead of presenting a long, uninterrupted flow of equations, diagrams, or data tables, break content into three key themes or insights.

This cognitive strategy leverages the brain’s preference for patterns of three, which improves recall and reduces cognitive load.

Group related ideas into three key points. This simplifies complex topics into memorable sets.

Limit lists or steps to three main takeaways. This makes recall easier and reduces cognitive overload.

When explaining a complex algorithm, present three layers: (1) the problem it solves, (2) the core logic/steps, (3) real-world impact or applications.

• Problem: Start with the pain point—what real-world issue or inefficiency the algorithm solves.

• Logic/Steps: Give a high-level, simplified walk-through of the core process (inputs ? key steps ? output).

• Impact: Show practical results, benefits, or applications so the audience sees why it matters.

Your audience processes and remembers more because you are packaging information in digestible clusters rather than overwhelming them with every detail at once.

So one way STEM speakers can grapple with the overwhelming complexity of technical content is to use the “Power of Three.”

Another way is to visualize, don’t verbalize dense data.

Visualize, Don’t Verbalize Dense Data

Technical audiences are accustomed to data, but even they get fatigued by walls of text or long spoken descriptions.

Use diagrams, flowcharts, or annotated visuals to offload working memory.

Cognitive research shows that humans process visuals up to 60,000x faster than text, and a good diagram can serve as a mental map for the rest of your talk.

Put key steps, formulas, and dependencies on the screen so your audience doesn’t have to track them mentally.

Use arrows, color-coding, or shapes to make cause-and-effect or process flow immediately visible, reducing mental translation effort.

Brief labels or captions guide interpretation, keeping viewers focused on the meaning instead of deciphering the visual.

Create a mini example visual (e.g., a simple process flow with annotations) to illustrate this technique for your audience?

Replace a 10-bullet list describing a process with a single labeled flowchart or a simplified schematic that shows the relationships among components.

This allows the audience to “see the system” at once, making it easier to follow nuanced details later.

So, two ways STEM speakers can grapple with the overwhelming complexity of content are to use the “Power of Three” and to visualize, don’t verbalize dense data.

The third way STEM speakers can grapple with the overwhelming complexity of technical content is to layer content, progressing from simple to more technical.

Layer Content, From Simple to Technical

Instead of starting with the most detailed equations, begin with a high-level, plain-language overview and progressively reveal complexity only as needed.

This approach is similar to the “inverted pyramid” used in journalism or the scaffolding technique in education.

STEM speakers can start simple and reveal complexity gradually by:

• Opening with a plain-language summary of the concept and its purpose.

• Adding visual scaffolding (diagrams or analogies) before introducing formulas.

• Revealing equations and technical details step by step, tying each back to the big picture.

For example, when discussing a new machine learning model, explain the business problem, the general model type (e.g., neural network), and then dive into architecture details like layers, loss functions, and performance metrics.

STEM professionals can explain a new machine learning model by:

• Business Problem: Briefly state the real-world challenge (e.g., “We need to predict equipment failures before they happen”).

• Model Type: Introduce the model in plain language (e.g., “We used a neural network, which mimics how the brain learns patterns”).

• Architecture Details: Gradually reveal deeper layers—structure, loss function, training data, and performance metrics—always tying them back to solving the business problem.

You bring everyone along for the ride—reducing the risk of losing non-expert stakeholders early or overwhelming your peers before they have context.

So, three ways STEM speakers can grapple with the overwhelming complexity of technical content are to (1) use the “Power of Three,” (2) visualize, don’t verbalize dense data, and (3) layer content, from simple to technical.

Use these three methods to make your technical content more accessible to your audiences.

Call to Action

• Break your technical presentation content into three key themes or insights instead of presenting a long, uninterrupted flow of equations, diagrams, or data tables.

• Use diagrams, flowcharts, or annotated visuals to offload working memory.

• Begin your technical presentations with a high-level, plain-language overview and progressively reveal complexity only as needed instead of starting with the most detailed equations.

References

• Clark, R. C., & Mayer, R. E. (2016). E-Learning and the Science of Instruction: Proven Guidelines for Consumers and Designers of Multimedia Learning. Wiley.

• Medina, J. (2014). Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School. Pear Press.

• Sweller, J. (1988). “Cognitive Load During Problem Solving: Effects on Learning.” Cognitive Science, 12(2), 257–285.

• Alley, M. (2013). The Craft of Scientific Presentations: Critical Steps to Succeed and Critical Errors to Avoid. Springer.

Being a confident, engaging, and effective STEM speaker is a vital personal and professional asset. With more than 40 years of engineering experience and more than 30 years of award-winning public speaking experience, I can help you reduce your presentation preparatory time by 50%, overcome your fear of public speaking and be completely at ease, deliver your presentations effectively, develop your personal presence with your audience; and apply an innovative way to handle audience questions deftly.

Working closely with you, I provide a customized protocol employing the critical skills and tools you need to create, practice, and deliver excellent STEM speeches and presentations. Let’s connect and explore how I can help you become the exceptional speaker you were meant to be. Please reach out to me at frank@speakleadandsucceed.com or 703-509-4424 for a complimentary consultation. Schedule a meeting with me at calendly.com/frankdibartolomeospeaks