People really know a bad presentation when they see one

What makes a good presentation?

To whom will you be speaking?

• lab members

• other experts

• general public

How much time do I have?

• <10 min (lightning talk)

• 15-20 (standard conference)

• 45-50 min (full seminar)

If possible, check out the space well ahead of time

• Is there a podium or stage?

• Is there a lectern?

• Is there a microphone?

• Is there a laser pointer & how does it work?

• People enjoy authenticity

• Show enthusiasm & excitement

• Use gestures & vocal inflections

beginning / middle / end

• Start with context

• Frame the problem

• Provide highlights

• Summarize take-home message(s)

• Avoid jargon to the extent possible

• Use equations judiciously (use words whenever possible)

• data = truth ± error

• Give yourself ample time to analyze & create

• Practice. Practice. Practice.

• Beware of “um”, “uh”, “you know”

• Consider writing out the first few sentences

• Get plenty of rest

• Drink plenty of water

• Beware of your caffeine intake

• Eat something light beforehand

• Dress for the occasion

• Check your posture & hands & pockets

• Smile

• Speak loudly & proudly

• Use humor judiciously

• Talk to the audience, not the screen

• Take your time to explain things

• Use color judiciously

• Use high contrast colors & backgrounds

• Beware of templates

• Use large fonts (16+ point)

• Build up concepts from their components

• Never apologize for a slide or image

• Use a short but informative title

• List your name & affiliation

• List your email & possibly social media handle

• Text is for the audience, not you

• Use short phrases, not sentences (3-7 words)

• Don’t read your own text

• Keep them simple

• Walk people through plots (axes, points, lines, colors)

• A pictures is worth a 1000 words

• Beware of poor contrast of text/images

• Just don’t…

• If necessary, keep it small (2x2, 3x3)

• Be sure to thank your collaborators, technicians & funders

• I like to do this in the beginning

• Consider 1-3 simple take-home messages

• List your email & possibly social media handle

• Use a definitive closing statement (eg, “Thank you”)

• Avoid “Thank you!” or “Questions?” slides

• This can be the hardest part of your talk

• Repeating the Q shows you understand & gives you time to think

• Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know”

• Try to defuse antagonistic people (“I can talk to you afterward”)

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