Just to give you an idea about how much I misunderstood about how these groups of people were placed together, I didn't know until I spoke with Roger Musson last year, when he was an invited speaker that he didn't pick the people who were in his group of oral presenters.

You see, I thought, well if the person is the invited guest, then they would invite others who they knew or knew of their work and ask them to join in the session. And as you see, I was terribly wrong.

However, his session was terrific. The topic was on historical earthquakes and in his group was Roger Bilham who I also had an interest in seeing. But the entire session was full of interesting facts and little theory. And I will say the room was wall to wall with people. IE: either an interest in the topic or the people.

However, to date out of my four years in attendance, the best presentation I've seen was delivered by Rolfe Steffanson about predicting earthquakes in Iceland. While it was the topic which brought me to schedule the presentation on my list, he brought something to the session which was wholely different. First, he dressed very well, he explained the research with good materials and he created such a dynamic delivery and so much enthusiasm that the audience gave him great applause when he finished. It was as if the entire room came alive. This indeed was a rare combination.

When I observe this type of occurrence I want to learn how to be like that. Tom McEvilly said I had contagious enthusiasm and I do when I get excited about something. I think scientific research, no matter the topic is interesting, but if you have the skills to make a presentation where you hold the entire rooms attention, then you are truly gifted.

While I will aspire to become a better public speaker and learn from others who have shown me how, perhaps in this short dialogue here, there are some others out there who in their daily lives need a little "aura fluffing", a reason to be more than they are and can be if inspired to do so.

Petra