Making Presentations at Science Conferences

1. Making Presentationsat Science Conferences Bruce Gnade, Ph.D.University of Texas TouradjSolouki, Ph.D.Baylor University

2. Giving a Successful Presentation • Preparation • Organization • Format and design • Presentation style • Taking questions

3. Preparation • Read the conference guidelines • Time allowed • Space available • Equipment available • Projector • Laser pointer • Computer • Translation • Ask if it isn’t clear

4. Preparation • Know the audience • how many? • technical background? • expectations?

5. Giving a Successful Presentation • Preparation • Organization • Format and design • Presentation style • Taking questions

6. Organization of a Presentation Introduction General Big Picture Background Methods Narrow Specific Focused Results Interpretation General Big Picture Conclusions

7. Title Page

8. Introduction What do we know already? (broad overview)

9. Introduction Why is this topic important or interesting?

10. Introduction Why should we care about this?

11. Introduction At the end of the Introduction, explain the reason for your research and its importance. “One mechanism for people to be exposed to lead is through water. This study focuses on the sources and concentration of lead in a river heavily polluted with lead from a copper mine.”

12. Background Provide the specific facts needed to understand the research

13. Background Sample location map

14. Methods Can I trust your data? Why should I believe you?

15. Results A picture is worth 1000 words (at least)

16. Interpretation What are the data telling you? What do they mean?

17. Conclusions Clearly summarize what you’ve learned and why it’s important (step back from the picture)

18. Giving a Successful Presentation • Preparation • Organization • Format and design • Presentation style • Taking questions

19. Font Size Use a font size that your audience can read. • This is 12 point type • This is 16 point type • This is 20 point type • This is 24 point type • This is 28 point type • This is 32 point type • This is 36 point type • This is 40 point type • This is 48 point type

20. Font Choice • Use a consistent font throughout the presentation • If you change fonts it signals the audience that something significant has changed • So, only change fonts for a definite reason • And be cautious in doing it • The same is true of font color

21. Color Don’t give your audience a headache!

22. Inventory of Pesticides (2007)

23. Text List topics—save the details for speaking

24. Text Animations • Text animations • Look silly • They annoy your audience • And they do not contribute • Anything • Do not use them • Please

25. Charts and Graphs

26. Giving a Successful Presentation • Preparation • Organization • Format and design • Presentation style • Taking questions

27. Presentation Style • Tell a story (you are not a robot) • Make sure everyone can hear you • Look at your audience one by one • Stand up • Walk around • Point to the screen with your hand • Don’t talk too fast • Pause when you need to • Breath

28. Giving a Successful Presentation • Preparation • Organization • Format and design • Presentation style • Taking questions

29. Taking Questions • Listen • Clarify the question if you don’t understand • Understand the point behind the question • Answer the question—then stop • You don’t need to know the answer • Explain what you know • Defer extensive discussion for later

30. Poster Presentation Title 120 point type; <10 words Results Discussion Abstract Introduction Results Conclusions Background Methods

31. Poster Presentation • Attend your poster • Print copies for people to take • Place you contact cards for people to take • Place reprints of your publications for people to take • Put you poster up as early as possible • Leave it up as long as possible • Remove it at the end of the conference