Hot Scholar is a pilot program of supportive, peer-based professional development, devised by Peta Murray, and supported by non/fictionLab. In the October session, lecturer and media specialist Kim Munro (pictured) was charged with capturing participants in action as they delivered short pitches to camera. Some chose to speak from memory; others experimented with teleprompting apps; some focused on pace, others on strategies for enhancing audience engagement. All participants came through the experience in one piece!

Most scholars are reporting changes in their experience of public speaking, with participants working in targeted ways on how they prepare for as well as how they meet the challenges of the performance. In each session we exchange tips and tricks (repeat this five times at speed) for effective vocal delivery and for nerves management, while also examining what constitutes impact in our fields and considering what kinds of engagement we can realistically ask of our listeners in conference, panel and lecture settings.

The pilot program will end with a final session in November 2018.