scientific presentation skills

1. Effective Scientific Presentation Skills
power point and oral presentation
Chapter 4

2. 2
Introduction
• This presentation is about how to give an
effective scientific presentation !
• Why is it important
– You would like to “sell” your work
• How to do it
– Some ideas and tips on how to do a
presentation and how not to do it are
presented.

3. 3
Key points for a presentation
• Who is the audience?
– Do not expect every one to be an expert in
the field
– Do not underestimate them either.
• How much time do you have?

4. 4
Key points for a presentation
• Are you prepared for the technical devices
to use: Laptop, Beamer, Pointer ….
– Be comfortable with the devices you need to
use
• Be aware that you are in a public form..
– Mobile phones

5. 5
Structure of the presentation
• What to do if you are starting with your
work and do not have details?
– Start with the general build up of context
• What is your project about
– Go to specifics… Ooops !!! There are no
specifics
• If you don’t have enough work done to present,
then state your goals and objectives that you
intend to achieve. Discuss with your peers and
seniors.

6. 6
Key tips for slides
• To Bold or not to Bold
– You can chose to use Bold letters to highlight
words
– If you want to typeset in Bold then keep in
mind the Font and Font Size
– This does not look that good
– This looks okay

7. 7
Key tips for slides
• Font Size
– Make sure it is readable to your entire
audience
• 18 point
• 20 point
• 24 point
• 28 point
• 32 point
•36 point

8. 8
Key tips for slides
• There should be contrast in written text
against the background
This is OK This is OK
This is not OK This is not OK

9. 9
Key tips for slides
• Give space in your slides.
• If you use any logos and picture ensure
that they have a good resolution
• For smaller audiences it might be a good
idea to give handouts to make the talk
more personal

10. 10
Conclusion
• This concludes a presentation on giving
good presentations
– A bit of talk on key points for a presentation
– And then a bit of structure of the presentation
– And lastly a bit of talk on aesthetics to keep in
mind for a presentation

11. 11
What This Presentation Is
About
• What makes a good
oral presentation
• Tips on preparing a
presentation
• Delivery of a
presentation

12. 12
Fear Is Good
Fear of failing
Fear of audience

13. 13
Elements of a Good
Presentation
• Clear purpose or objective
• Sufficient, but not too much, information
• Organized
• Meets needs of audience
• For the ear to hear as well as the eye to
see
• Stories and examples

14. 14
Outlining Your Presentation
• Methods of organization
– chronological or sequential
– three points
– problem-cause-solution
– n ways to …
– Stories

15. 15
Outlining Your Presentation
Open
Transition
Point 1
Examples
Point 2
Transition
Examples
Transition
Point 3
Example(s)
Transition
Close

16. 16
Types of Openings
• Preview
• Ask a question
• Ask a rhetorical question
• Pose a hypothetical situation
• Describe something new or dramatic
• Make a startling statement

17. 17
Delivery of a Good
Presentation
• Be enthusiastic
• Use body language
• Talk to the audience
• Dress appropriately

18. 18
Closing Styles
• Summarize
• Call to action
• Anecdote or story
• Rhetorical question

19. 19
Summary
Elements of a good
presentation
– Be clear about its purpose.
– Prepare.
– Have an attention-getting opening.
– Make the content organized and interesting.
– Be enthusiastic.
– Talk to the audience.
– Have a memorable closing.

20. 20
Are you prepared to do an
effective oral presentation?