"Some of you may think the f elements are boring ... and to a certain extent they are boring ..." 

an f element chemist, discussing her research at our symposium in New Orleans

"I've always had this weird fascination to give a talk with a snake wrapped around my neck ..." 

a presenter at our symposium

"If the computer senses that you are as confused as it is, then it thinks that it has done its job."

a presenter at our symposium, brilliantly handling technical difficulties