How to give a good scientific oral presentation
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This presentation outlines the basic philosophy, strategy, and skills needed to give a good scientific presentation. This talk outlines compassion, clarity, enthusiasm, preparation, and uses examples throughout.
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How to give a good scientific oral presentation
- 2. Introduction
- 3. What is a scientific seminar? A forum for verbally communicating scientific information with the use of visual aids
- 4. What is a scientific seminar? A forum for verbally communicating scientific information with the use of visual aids in person.
- 5. introduction details summary Tell them what you are going to tell them Tell them Summarize what you have told them Seminar structure
- 6. What makes a good seminar?
- 7. What breaks a good seminar?
- 8. Compassion
- 9. Compassion in a scientific seminar Make sure they understand. Do not go over your time. Golden Rules
- 10. • How much background to include? • What level of expertise to expect? • How big is the audience? • Who is speaking before you? • Does the audience know you? Know your audience
- 11. “Screens of sediment off the coast of Namibia revealed large unicellular organisms. Initially, the identities were unknown.” Know your audience
- 13. Which audience is this statement suitable for? Expert Informed Non-specialist Know your audience We used allele-specific PCR-based molecular markers for genotyping.
- 14. Which audience is this statement suitable for? Expert Informed Non-specialist We used allele-specific PCR-based molecular markers for genotyping. Know your audience
- 15. Which audience is this statement suitable for? Expert Informed Non-specialist We used DNA fingerprinting methods. Know your audience
- 16. Which audience is this statement suitable for? Expert Informed Non-specialist Know your audience We used DNA fingerprinting methods.
- 17. Clarity
- 18. 1. Being heard 2. Pacing the delivery 3. Avoiding jargon 4. Using clear pronunciations 5. Use inflections 6. Adding movement Seminar clarity
- 19. 1. Being heard (use microphone) 2. Pacing the delivery (slow down!) 3. Avoiding jargon (define it) 4. Using clear pronunciations (use your slides!) 5. Use inflections 6. Adding movement (eye contact) Seminar clarity
- 20. “Power corrupts and Powerpoint corrupts absolutely” - Edward Tufte
- 23. intro objectives methods results discussion Outline
- 24. intro objectives methods results discussion Outline
- 25. intro objectives methods results discussion Outline
- 26. intro objectives methods results discussion Outline
- 27. intro objectives methods results discussion Outline
- 28. intro objectives methods results discussion Outline
- 29. intro objectives methods results discussion Outline
- 31. Title of some sort Some key statement about the data Data visual of some sort Referencetoyourpaper2011
- 32. Data visual of some sort
- 33. Outline • Bullet text • Short comment • Key points only • Not full sentences • Talk to audience Data visual of some sort Reference to your paper 2011
- 43. Animations and images • Animations (fade is the only one) • Transitions (fade is the only one) • Use animations sparingly to pace information “roll out”, building understanding gradually on a slide • Graphics (please crop; save as png)
- 46. Animations and images • Animations (fade is the only one) • Transitions (fade is the only one) • Use animations sparingly to pace information “roll out”, building understanding gradually on a slide • Graphics (please crop; save as png) • Become friends with Illustrator, Photoshop, GIMP (OA), Inkscape (OA)
- 47. Enthusiasm
- 48. 1. Passion and motivation. 2. Expertise and immersing oneself wholly in their field. 3. Listening, questioning and respecting others. 4. Experimentation and adaptation. 5. Style, entertainment and dynamism. 6. Humour and the ability to make jokes at your own expense. 7. Being available, caring and nurturing. 8. Strength and leadership. 9. Teamwork, training and mentoring between senior and junior faculty. 10. Fun and pleasure. Good Teaching: The Top 10 Requirements York University’s Dr. Richard Leblanc
- 49. • Communicate your excitement! • If you look or sound bored, the audience will be bored. • A presentation should be self- contained and informative (make your audience feel good about how smart they are) • Do not read the text on your slides! Enthusiasm
- 50. • Communicate your excitement! • If you look or sound bored, the audience will be bored. • A presentation should be self- contained and informative (make your audience feel good about how smart they are) • Do not read the text on your slides! Enthusiasm
- 51. The secret: Someone is always going to be falling asleep during your seminar! Enthusiasm (reality)
- 52. The secret: You will always have “friends” in the audience. Find them. Enthusiasm (reality)
- 53. The truth: Everyone is going to fall asleep (or worse) if you drone on! Stick to your allotted time Enthusiasm (reality)
- 54. Have you stimulated interest? Good questions often follow a good seminar. (see “Preparation” section) Enthusiasm (reality)
- 55. Preparation
- 56. What makes a speaker effective? Practice
- 57. 1. Gain experience giving seminars 2. Start by doing so in front of a friendly audience 3. Get feedback from your peers and your mentors 4. Learn (steal ideas) from others Other tools you can use
- 58. What was good? What was bad? What was ugly? Watch other seminars and be critical
- 59. Own the podium (clicker, lights, windows, doors, microphone, potted plants) Preparation
- 60. • Be prepared. Be very prepared. • Look cool, calm, smile, welcoming. • Use feedback from peers/mentors to help identify likely questions • Acknowledge weaknesses in data • Important: repeat the question (or else) • Consider ninja slides Question time
- 61. Add a little humor. (but only if you feel comfortable doing so) Try not to “put on a show”, even if it means breaking the rules Enthusiasm (be yourself)
- 62. • Don’t use comic sans or a serif font • Do use Gotham, Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, Verdana (pick one!) • Do give your presentation a common look-and-feel (e.g. last slide was iffy) • Don’t read the text on your slides • Do not pack too much into your talk (1 slide per minute is a good rule) • Do not go over time! • Do practice beforehand Miscellaneous (laundry list)
- 63. • Do not stand behind your computer • Do not stand behind the podium • Do not rock back and forth • Do not put your hands in your pockets • Do smile when introduced and for questions • Do make eye contact • Do look around, even to the back • Do not face your slides (back to audience) • Do use humour if you can Miscellaneous (laundry list)
- 64. • Do speak loudly • Do interact with audience/bring prop? • Do not say “I don’t need a microphone” • Do explain all axis labels • Don’t include enough text on the slides that it could be read • Do include “ninja” slides for extra material • Do not pack too much into your talk (1 slide per minute) • Do not go over time! Miscellaneous (laundry list)
- 65. • Do not say “This is here to remind me” • Do not say “You won’t be able to see this…” • Do not say “How much time do I have left?” • Do not say “Thank you. I’ll take questions” • When finished, say “Thank you for your attention.” That’s it. • Do not moderate your own question period unless invited to do so. Look to chair. • Do keep your answers short and sweet. • Do not have a “Questions?” slide. • Do not bs Miscellaneous (laundry list)
- 66. • For a <15 minute talk, do not talk about your acknowledgement slide (just show it) • For a >30 minute talk, give a talk outline at the beginning: what stories will you tell? • For a <30 minute talk, consider an abridged outline: what story will you tell? • Do not use an outdated University logo • Write: University of Waterloo (e.g. not Waterloo University) • Good luck on your title slide – hard to do, but important… Miscellaneous (laundry list)
- 67. • Do not use screen captures • Do cite any image source • Do use the snapshot tool in Adobe to grab pdf images, but increase size on screen to 300%+ to ctrl-c and ctrl-v into your presentation • Include a figure or image on every slide • Do not use ellipses at end of sentences… especially with more than three dots…… • Align everything. • Do make your talk personal (show picture) Miscellaneous (laundry list)
- 68. • Show your hands • No Richard III poses • Gesture • Smile • Be thankful and humble • Practice (at least) three times beforehand Miscellaneous (laundry list)