Re: VMs: Voynich Conference: preliminary description... [RFC!]

[Nick Pelling <incoming@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi everyone,

Some additional thoughts:-

(1) I've allocated space for 12 x 15-minute short papers / presentations / 
talks / whatever - but the format is entirely up to you. If you're not 
really used to presenting but do want to do this, you may find it easier to 
co-present with another attendee who roughly shares your point of view, and 
bounce it between you.

(2) Topics: here are just a few possible ideas to get you started, feel 
free to adapt them how you like. We're a pretty eclectic group here, but 
would probably prefer detail on an interesting topic (with discussion to 
back it up) than a basic introduction to an area.

	Rough Guide to the VMS (not every attendee will be 100% up to speed)
	The Voynich time-line
	Voynichese and other lost languages
	Voynich and Kircher
	Early modern cryptography
	Voynich Dialects - statistics, structure, and linguistics
	Signal or noise? The VMS as postmodernist exemplar
	Heresy, magic, necromancy... all or none of the above?
	Astrology, medicine and the early modern worldview
	VMS plant identification - the current state of play
	The greatest hoax? Gullibility and patronage, 1500-1600.
	Dee & Kelly's Great Adventure in Prague

(3) Presentation tip #1 - the plan is to have a computer on hand with a 
reasonably hi-res projector, together with all the no-ip scans and whatever 
slides you prepare in advance. Powerpoint is good, but don't go crazy with 
the detail - most of the benefit of the conference will likely be from rich 
discussion, not so much from rich pictures.

(4) Presentation tip #2 - summarise your list of points in advance in small 
cue cards. Most of us are primarily desk researchers, so are unlikely to be 
natural-born motivational speakers - but what you don't want to do is sit 
down afterwards and think "I wish I'd said..." Cue cards help you make sure 
you cover all the ground you want to cover.

Cheers, .....Nick Pelling.....


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