Marc Kuchner (GSFC): Marketing for Scientists

Most scientists know all too well that they must market themselves. But the usual education of a scientist does little to teach us about the powerful tools business professionals use to win support for their ideas. Even the word "marketing" is often seen as taboo. This talk aims to break the taboos and introduce scientists to the fundamental techniques from the business world that matter most to them, like sales, branding and relationship building. It uses the examples of Steve Jobs, George Lucas, and Barak Obama to show that marketing can be a positive, even healing force that can help scientists get their ideas across while building the outstanding reputations they need.