Lab Leadership

Whether a close-up of a leafcutter ant, or a micrograph of the neurons derived from marmoset stem cells, or an MRI of the hidden pathways in the human brain, submissions to University of Wisconsin-Madison’s 2015 Cool Science Image Contest continue to put science and nature on eye-catching display.

Meetings, emails, and presentations are often filled with a seemingly endless stream of jargon — such as ‘pick the low-hanging fruit’ or ‘think outside the box’ — that is supposed to serve as shorthand to help convey a message. Does it work? Does its overuse become cliché? Why do people rely on jargon to communicate?

Since 2000, according to numerous national surveys, less than one-third of workers in the United States are engaged in their work as measured by their involvement, enthusiasm, and commitment to their work. If you simply reflect on your most recent encounter as a consumer at your local retail store, restaurant, or government agency, your own experience will more than likely validate the reality of these startling statistics.


















