The Power of Voice: It's Not Just What You Say...

What does your voice reveal about you – and what does it do to the people listening?

Our voices carry far more than words. Within milliseconds, the way someone speaks can tell us something about how they feel, whether they are interested in us, how confident they are – even whether they are trying to encourage or control us. And these subtle signals can change how we feel and behave in return.

In this talk, Professor Silke Paulmann explores the science of the human voice and what her research reveals about its power to shape social interaction. Discover how tiny changes in tone can affect whether children want to talk to their teachers, whether we feel understood and connected to another person, and how willing we are to cooperate or open up.

From classrooms and healthcare to leadership and everyday conversations, we’ll explore why how we say something can sometimes matter just as much as what we say – and what happens when we start paying attention to the voices around us, including our own.

Part of Chelmsford Science Festival 2026.