This document provides guidance for presenting research at a conference in several formats: poster sessions, paper presentations, and roundtables. It offers tips for effective preparation, organization, and delivery of presentations. Key recommendations include rehearsing a concise overview, using succinct titles and bullet points, highlighting key findings visually, practicing within time limits, and being prepared to discuss limitations and answer questions.

1. THE RESEARCH CONFERENCE
PRESENTATION
William Perez, Ph.D.
MMP Workshop 2-8-08

2. OUTLINE
 Presentation Formats
 Preparation
 Presenting
 Q&A

3. PRESENTATION FORMATS
 Poster Session
 Paper Presentation/Symposium
 Roundtable

4. BEFORE THE POSTER PRESENTATION
 Turn your proposal/paper into a poster presentation
format
 Review key articles/research literature to reference
during your discussion with visitors
 Rehearse a 1-2 minute synopsis of the main
findings and its implications
 Review all the details of the study
 Review poster format guidelines usually posted on
conference website or program/schedule
 Print 30-40 handouts
 Bring a pad of paper and pen to get people’s email
in case you run out of handouts
 You can also do this in lieu of handouts

5. POSTER CONTENT
 Title
 Introduction
 Key Literature Reference
 Research Question
 Methods
 Sample
 Procedures
 Results
 Discussion/Conclusion
 References
 Contact Information

6. EFFECTIVE POSTER PRESENTATIONS
 Poster Content needs to be succinct
 No long titles
 Pay careful attention to the title-shorter is better
 No long paragraphs
 Brief sentences
 Bullet points
 Highlight only key findings
 Do not try to include all findings
 Include one key figure and/or one key table
 Figures and tables should be easy to read/understand
 If using PowerPoint, use no more than 10 slides

7. DURING THE POSTER PRESENTATION
 Have plenty of handouts ready with contact
information and/or business cards
 Be ready to discuss limitations of the study
 If you can’t address a particular question it’s ok to say “I
don’t know,” or “I will need to consider that further, thank
you for raising the issue.”
 Use the opportunity to network/promote your work
 Be able to articulate in 2-3 minutes the
importance/main findings/implications of the study

8. PAPER PRESENTATION/SYMPOSIUM
 Usually 5 or 6 people
 Coordinate presentation with others
 An important difference between a poster
presentation and a paper presentation is that you
have more space/time to articulate rationale,
important findings and implications

9. PAPER ORGANIZATION
 Title
 Introduction
 Key Literature References
 Research Questions
 Methods
 Sample
 Procedures
 Measures
 Results
 Discussion/Conclusion
 References
 Contact Information

10. BEFORE THE PRESENTATION
 Figure out your time limit and organize your
presentation accordingly
 Coordinate the presentation order with fellow
presenters
 Practice your presentation several times to make
sure you stay within the time limit
 Practice in front of the mirror
 Record your presentation and play it back
 Make modifications based on your practice sessions
 Prepare 30-40 handouts
 As backup, prepare full-size printed slides and/or
overhead projector slides

11. DURING THE PRESENTATION
 Load PowerPoint Slides into one computer, and
open them all before symposium starts to use your
time more effectively
 Delivery basics
 Speak in a slow and deliberate pace, don’t rush
 Make eye contact with the audience

12. DURING THE PRESENTATION
 Fielding Questions/Comments
 If you do not know the answer
 Belligerent audience member
 Dealing with discipline specific language and
vocabulary at a transdisciplinary conference

13. Q&A
 Questions from the audience