Scott L. Montgomery

Scott L. Montgomery (born on 30 May 1951) is an American author, geoscientist and lecturer. He is known for his writings on intellectual history, language and translation, history of science and energy-related matters.

Quotes

• Scientists are not known for the graces of courtesy and tact when commenting on the work of others.
  • The Chicago Guide to Communicating Science, second edition, University of Chicago press, 2017, page 83 ISBN 978-0-226-14450-4.

• If speaking to nonscientific audiences is something that interests you or will likely be asked of you, keep in mind three overriding requirements: first, you must be a human being, an interesting one if at all possible; second, you must be accurate in what you say, that is, tell the truth (about what is known and what isn't; about issues, debates, controversies); and third, if your subject is scientific knowledge, you must remain a scientist and not slip into the role of advocate or activist.
  • The Chicago Guide to Communicating Science, second edition, University of Chicago press, 2017, page 302 ISBN 978-0-226-14450-4.

• How many talks have you sat through where the researcher qua [as] person just didn't show up: no anecdotes, no personal details, no emotion or enthusiasm, no humor (intentional, that is), no real contact with the audience – in other words, no performance. [...] They may satisfy the second two requirements mentioned above – accuracy and nonadvocacy – but they fail in the first and, in some ways, the most important.
  • The Chicago Guide to Communicating Science, second edition, University of Chicago press, 2017, page 302 ISBN 978-0-226-14450-4.