SEX in STEM: It’s Not What You Think
How to use the SEXI method to present your results
SEX. Engineers and scientists love it.
I’m talking about the Statement + EXplanation kind of SEX.😏
When it comes to presenting results, STEM professionals typically just show a graph or a table and point to the one interesting part. They say something like:
“This is interesting because it is a good result showing reduction in the dose behind shielding by 30% with respect to the previous norm.”
And that’s it.
What’s missing?
The implications, of course. The interpretation of the result.
What are the repercussions? What does it mean for the rest of the system? What’s the next thing that logically follows from these results you’re showing?
Read these next two paragraphs:
“This child is a protégé. She is special because she is so smart. She is 12 but she knows calculus and reads Feynman.”
“This child is a protégé. She is special because she is so smart. She is 12 but she knows calculus and reads Feynman. She is interested in the future of our planet. Already, she is applying her talent to finding large-scale clean energy sources. Giving up on toys and dancing, she is fully dedicated to her cause. And she involves other children her age in science-based activities. A true visionary leader.”
Do you see the difference?
Why is the second version better?
Because it uses the facts to paint a picture. Because it focuses on the consequences and the potential of what we have at hand. Because it shows the impact.
Yes, the impact. I’ve written about it before: Meet your new friend - PSI (Problem, Solution, Impact).
And you’ll hear it again!
“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives”
- Jackie Robinson ⚾️
Because I’m on a mission to make STEM professionals care about the impact of the work they’re doing.
And then, they should share it.
So be SEXI.
Go beyond Statement and EXplanation, and add Impact.
Statement: What you observe in your results.
EXplanation: How you obtained it.
Impact: What does it mean? What are the implications and consequences? How do you interpret it?
And then, you go on to mention your assumptions and limitations. That way, you stay grounded and realistic about the impact of your results.
So there you have it. An easy-to-remember method of presenting your results:
Be SEXI.
Want to practise being SEXI? Reply to this email with a paragraph about your latest result, and I’ll send you feedback. Let’s make your impact irresistible.
Your Coach,
Yulia
The SEXI framework really sticks. I can already see how adding that “Impact” layer transforms dry data into something meaningful and human.
The comparison between the two child prodigy examples made the concept click instantly. It's so true: facts alone don’t inspire action or connection. It’s the story we wrap around them that makes people care.