The Proposition: ‘A response depends more on who asks than on the question itself.’

PhD students explain their most provocative statement. This time it’s Christian Lamping, who received his PhD on 1 October for his research on deep learning for robust animal monitoring in uncontrolled environments.

‘During my PhD, we once wanted to access a chicken farm for an experiment, but obtaining permission was very difficult. However, when someone who knew the farm manager personally made the same request, permission was granted almost immediately. This made me realize that responses often depend more on who is asking the question than on the question itself.

The same applies in academia. When sharing a scientific finding with the public, we often emphasize the positive outcomes while downplaying the limitations. In contrast, when discussing the same results with a fellow researcher, we tend to be more transparent, openly sharing the challenges and difficulties of the research.

We frequently react differently depending on whom we’re interacting with, just as others respond to us in different ways. This feels so natural that we often don’t even notice it. What I’ve learned is that it’s crucial to know your audience. Whether you’re asking for a favour or giving a presentation, you need to tailor your approach to the people you’re engaging with. This will make your message or request much more effective.’

Also read:

The Proposition: ‘Equal representation of women in scientific leadership roles is essential for driving comprehensive and innovative research.’

[The Proposition]‘Authentic speaking breaks through polarity’

[The Proposition] ‘Environmental science enables a healthy environment in a nonstop polluting society’