Feeding the Mind: Turning Data into Dessert

Opsonizing Your Presentation: Making Data a Little Tastier

A few days ago, I attended a fascinating webinar hosted by Ateneo de Manila University called “Going Beyond Research: Translating Research into Advocacy."

The speakers talked about how scientists and communicators can make their messages more relatable, human, and engaging. Somewhere in the middle of the session, a thought popped into my head:

“What if communicating science is a bit like immunology?”

In particular, “what if we could opsonize our presentations?”

For my nonmed-field readers, I’ll explain what opsonization is

In immunology, opsonization is when a pathogen gets coated with special molecules so immune cells can recognize and “eat” it more easily. Basically “yummy-fying”

It’s a beautiful metaphor for communication. Because let’s be honest—most presentations are like raw antigens: full of important stuff, but not exactly appealing or easy to digest.

If your slides are walls of text, and your audience looks like they’re fighting sleep, it’s probably time to opsonize.

Here’s my key takeaways:

1. Coat Your Message with Clarity

Raw data doesn’t stick. Meaning does.

Just as opsonins make it easier for cells to recognize what matters, clarity helps your audience latch onto your key message. Instead of drowning people in details, show them why it matters and how it connects to something they care about.

Think: what’s the “recognition site” of your presentation? What’s the one idea they should take home?

2. Presentation is Plating

You might have brilliant findings or policy recommendations, but if your slides look like an Excel sheet threw up, people won’t engage. Design isn’t decoration—it’s digestion.

Use visuals. Break down complex graphs. Tell stories that make numbers human. You’re not just showing data; you’re serving a meal your audience can actually enjoy.

3. Add the Human Enzyme

Science without emotion is like data without context—it just doesn’t stick.

This webinar reminded me that storytelling isn’t about dumbing things down; it’s about lifting people up to your message (or the other way around)

So, show the faces behind the facts. Anchor the data in lived experiences. Let your audience feel something before you make them think something.

4. Let Them Chew

Even the most delicious ideas need time to be savored. Pause. Ask questions. Summarize before jumping to the next point. Engage.

5. Serve It with Energy

A “yummy” presentation isn’t just about visuals—it’s about vibe. Speak like you care (because you actually do). Smile. Tell stories as if you’re sharing them over coffee, not a podium. Energy is contagious, and when you bring warmth and curiosity to your work, your audience can taste it.

Opsonizing your presentation means making your ideas easier to recognize, absorb, and act upon.

Because communication isn’t just about sharing information—it’s about sparking understanding or even just curiosity. And when we coat our content with clarity, story, and sincerity, our ideas don’t just inform—they inspire.

So the next time you build a deck or pitch an idea, remember:
Don’t just transmit data.
Serve meaning.