Callie Robinson, a junior at the University of Tennessee Herbert College of Agriculture, has won the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers 2025 Collegiate Discussion Meet. Her victory marks the second consecutive year a Herbert student has achieved this recognition.
A new free VR platform has been launched to help people overcome public speaking anxiety, with clinical trials showing significant increases in confidence after a single 30-minute session. The platform uses Overexposure Therapy to build adaptability, grit, and resilience through repeated practice in extreme scenarios.
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A researcher at Singapore Management University is using virtual reality technology and AI to help students overcome their fear of public speaking. The PresentationPro platform uses avatars that respond realistically to verbal and non-verbal cues, allowing students to practice public speaking in a low-risk environment.
Public health officials can use storytelling to resonate key messages with their audiences, taking into account social determinants of health and empathetic creativity. Effective storytelling highlights complexities, leading to strategies like outdoor firepits to address issues.
Researchers created virtual reality 'doppelganger' avatars to train participants in public speaking, accelerating interpersonal skills learning. The study used AI-powered role models to enhance learning outcomes and improve communication skills.
A senior editor at The BMJ argues that politicians' inaction during the pandemic amounts to 'social murder' and demands accountability through legal and electoral means. The BMJ editorial calls for citizens to lobby their representatives for a public inquiry and for professionals to speak out against negligent leaders.
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Researchers investigated how well speech is understood from those speaking while wearing a cloth mask. They found that masked speech was not more difficult to understand and, in some cases, understanding was improved when speakers were instructed to speak clearly. The study highlights the adaptive nature of human speech.
A study published in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine found that people with conflicts of interest were more likely to provide positive testaments about psychiatric drug treatments. The authors recommend stricter management or prohibition of COIs to promote transparency and validity in the approval process.
A new poll reveals six in ten people know little about dying, with most getting information from family conversations and documentaries. The UK Academy of Medical Sciences launches a national campaign to empower public conversations about death and dying, citing concerns about pain and fear as major worries.
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Researchers found that skilled voice impersonators can successfully deceive automatic speaker recognition systems by mimicking specific speakers. The study highlights the vulnerability of these systems to human-induced voice modifications, particularly those produced through imitation and disguise.
The new book, 'Public Space? Lost and Found,' examines the crucial role of art in shaping our sense of community and politics. It argues that public space is an essential requirement of contemporary life and can never be politically neutral ground.
A study of Google, Cisco, Cognizant, and Fidelity employees found that skill improvements in areas like leadership, mentorship, and public speaking were linked to personal characteristics and the volunteering experience. Volunteers who had more opportunities to practice skills while volunteering showed greater improvement.
A new study from the University of Bristol argues that climate science denial is seeping into the scientific community's discussion of climate change, causing them to overemphasize scientific uncertainty. This 'seepage' of contrarian claims has led scientists to downplay the degree of threat and undercommunicate knowledge, despite know...
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A team of researchers from the University of Rochester has created a system called Rhema that uses smart glasses to give real-time feedback on public speaking volume and rate. This feedback helps speakers adjust their performance, with tests showing an improvement in delivery compared to users who received no or continuous feedback.
A new study found that encouraging people to reframe their natural bodily signals as helpful during stressful speaking tasks can improve performance. The study used the Trier Social Stress Test and found that participants who were prepped about the benefits of stress weathered the trial better, with increased blood flow and fewer physi...
Researchers at Ohio State University found that people with persistent negative attitudes towards feared objects or events are more likely to experience a return of their fear after exposure therapy. The study developed a tool to evaluate attitudes immediately after treatment and suggests that attitude change is key to lasting recovery.
The William E. Simon Foundation has gifted Boston College Law School with $1 million to boost its oral advocacy programs, providing students with invaluable hands-on experience in public speaking and argumentation. This gift will anchor the program for future generations of law students, building on decades of tradition and success.
The Lancet Editorial argues that capital punishment is a cruel practice with no place in modern society, citing declining support worldwide. The use of lethal injection is facing major legal challenges in the US, further eroding its legitimacy.
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Researchers at Georgia State University are exploring virtual reality (VRE) therapy as a potential solution to treat fear of public speaking. By immersing individuals in a controlled virtual environment, Anderson's study aims to reduce anxiety and improve confidence in real-world public speaking situations.
Research found that alcoholics exhibit blunted heart-rate responses to public speaking despite similar anxiety levels, indicating a disconnection between perception and physiological response. This impairment may contribute to social functioning and emotional experiences in individuals recovering from severe alcohol dependence.