Chapter 16 opens by asking readers to identify the elements in their developing demonstrations that are in good shape and those that still need work. The chapter organizes such elements by analogy to a three-legged stool: One leg is a demonstration’s materials; another is a comprehensive plan; the third is the person doing the demonstration. Discussion of materials emphasizes practical considerations such as visual or manipulable items that are exciting, portability, backups, links to core points, and even duct tape. Discussion of plans emphasizes clarity on the demonstration’s goals, knowing how to use the materials, and having a stock of juicy questions; detailed plans make it easier to be flexible in the face of surprises. Discussion of the person emphasizes how people are crucial to cooperative conversations, how they make the materials more interesting and more entertaining, how their questions guide other people’s learning, and how they represent their fields. This chapter’s Closing Worksheet asks readers to write demonstration guidelines modeled in the Worked Example about a demonstration using dinosaurs to compare human language to other forms of communication.

Chapter 2 opens by asking readers to reflect on strengths and weaknesses of experts of their choice and then to consider overlap between their own strengths and weaknesses and those of these experts. Variation in personalities and styles is useful in public engagement because we meet many different kinds of people in informal learning venues. The chapter thus encourages readers to be themselves as they talk about their science. Genuine passion combines well with any level of expertise. Further, saying "I don’t know" when you reach the edge of your expertise shows your conversational partners that you are honest. A demonstration of counting in different sign languages exemplifies these concepts. This chapter also encourages a growth mindset so that both success and failure during public engagement contribute to improved skills. This chapter’s Closing Worksheet asks readers to choose the topic area that they’ll develop into a demonstration through activities later in the book.