Audience
How to Give a Scientific
Presentation
Modified after Stephanie Pfirman
Structure
! Intro/overview
! Reseach question(s)
! Methods
http://mstroud4.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/audienceparticipation.jpg
Structure
! Intro/overview
! Research question(s)
! Methods
! Results
! Greatest hits
! Figures
Esopus Creek
631
808
794
826
1060
1080
1040
779
686
670
696
831
985
1080
1350
1430
2440
2280
2040
1830
1650
1560
1520
1410
1320
1310
1450
1560
1550
1480
precipitation
(in/day)
0
0
0.08
0
1.09
0.48
0.28
0
0
0
0.53
0.23
0.45
0.14
0.65
0
1.6
0
0
0.55
0
0
0.39
0
0
0.11
0.78
0.22
0.45
0
date
1-Dec
2-Dec
3-Dec
4-Dec
5-Dec
6-Dec
7-Dec
8-Dec
9-Dec
10-Dec
11-Dec
12-Dec
13-Dec
14-Dec
15-Dec
16-Dec
17-Dec
18-Dec
19-Dec
20-Dec
21-Dec
22-Dec
23-Dec
24-Dec
25-Dec
26-Dec
27-Dec
28-Dec
29-Dec
30-Dec
31-Dec
discharge
(cf/s)
1480
2920
2380
1990
1770
1620
1500
1420
1350
1290
1280
1330
1280
1250
1190
1180
1160
1120
1080
1070
1080
1060
1060
1050
1050
986
1010
1010
977
972
957
3500
precipitation
(in/day)
0.07
0.96
0
0
0
0.1
0
0
0
0
0.1
0.47
0
0.57
0.04
0
0.17
0.01
0
0
0
0
0.18
0
0.5
0
0
0.07
0
0
0
1.8
discharge (cf/s)
3000
1.6
precipitation (in/day)
1.4
2500
1.2
2000
1
1500
0.8
0.6
1000
Precipitation (in/day)
1-Nov
2-Nov
3-Nov
4-Nov
5-Nov
6-Nov
7-Nov
8-Nov
9-Nov
10-Nov
11-Nov
12-Nov
13-Nov
14-Nov
15-Nov
16-Nov
17-Nov
18-Nov
19-Nov
20-Nov
21-Nov
22-Nov
23-Nov
24-Nov
25-Nov
26-Nov
27-Nov
28-Nov
29-Nov
30-Nov
discharge
(cf/s)
Discharge rate (cf/s)
date
Esopus Creek
0.4
500
Discharge of the Esopus
Creek (Coldbrook, NY)
and precipitation at Slide
Mountain, NY (source:
USGS/NCDC)
0.2
0
1-Nov
0
8-Nov
15-Nov
22-Nov
29-Nov
6-Dec
13-Dec
20-Dec
27-Dec
Date in 1992
Discharge of the Esopus Creek (Coldbrook, NY) and
precipitation at Slide Mountain, NY (source: USGS/NCDC)
Figures
! Keep ‘em simple
! Use logical colors
! Blue = cold, red = warm, dark = little,
bright = a lot
! Invisible color
! Meaning attached to colors
! Explain axes and variables
! Include reference (info and images)
http://www.cs.aau.dk/~luca/SLIDES/howtotalk-ru.pdf
Structure
! Intro/overview
! Research question(s)
! Methods
! Results
! Greatest hits
! Figures
! Discussion
!
!
!
!
Expected results?
Put in context
What went wrong/how improve?
Future directions
! Summary/Conclusions
! References
Preparing the Presentation
!
!
!
!
!
Average 1 slide per minute
No sounds! Judicious use of animations
Use 3-5 bullets per page
Consistent appearance
Speelcheck
Fonts
Type size should be 20 points or larger*:
Fonts (cont.)
18 point
20 point
24 point
28 point
36 point
•Sans-serif:
-better for powerpoint presentations
•Serif:
-better for large blocks of text (e.g., written presentations)
AVOID USING ALL CAPITAL LETTERS
UNLESS YOU WANT TO SHOUT AT
YOUR AUDIENCE
* References can be in 12-14 point font http://www.fw.msu.edu/orgs/gso/documents/GSOWorkshop
DocsSp2006/PresentationTipsinPowerPoint.ppt#307,6,Pow
erpoint basics: 1. What font to use
Color
Color
Dark letters against a light background
work best when the lights are on.
But mama likes light colors against a
dark background
Be prepared
Notes
! Set up early
! Backups
! Dress snappily
www.com.msu.edu/.../powerpoint/printing.htm
Rehearsing
! Practice out loud
! You discover what you don’t understand
! You come up with better phrasings and
ways to describe things
! Stay within the time limit
! The more rehearsing, the better!
! Uptalking
http://www.fw.msu.edu/orgs/gso/documents/GSOWorksh
opDocsSp2006/TipsforGivingaScientificPresentation.pdf
Giving the Presentation
Giving the
Presentation
! Starting out is the hardest part
! To get going, memorize the first few lines
! Experienced speakers:
! Speak freely and look directly at audience
! Inexperienced speakers:
! Put outline and key points of your presentation
on your slides
Giving the
Presentation (cont.)
! Don’t apologize
!
!
!
!
!
Look at people, not slides, during presentation
Stand where the figures can be seen
Be enthusiastic
Don’t worry about stopping to think
Don’t rush
! Pointer etiquette
! Figure out which slide is your half-way mark and use
that to check your time
www.clarityrules.org
www.laylaland.org
Ending
Questions and Answers
! Announce the ending
!
!
!
!
!
! Come back to the big picture
! Future directions
Identifies parts the audience did not understand
Helps you see something from a new perspective
You can repeat the question
Keep answers short
Anticipate and prepare for potential questions
! Have extra slides ready (e.g., methods,
instrumentation)
http://www.erp.wisc.edu/profdev/Talkhandout05.doc
http://www.firekills.gov.uk/seniors/cool/howstart/images/howstart.gif
http://www.cs.aau.dk/~luca/SLIDES/howtotalk-ru.pdf