Scientific Presentations Powerpoint Design Jean-Luc LeBrun

Prepare your 7 minute presentation prior the scientific presentation course. (Conference paper presentation – no review paper). Please follow the Assertion / Evidence slide format given here-after. Its benefits will be presented during the class.

Assertion - Evidence model TitleHookTake-Away StoryStoryStoryStory

Title Slide Your title Your name Your company name and logo Acknowledgments A visual if useful

Hook Slide Surprising result Problem, question Reason for research What? How? Visually, little text Close to the title

Story Slide Header is take-away, main conclusion ASSERTION: full sentence with conjugated verb EVIDENCE: clear supportive visual evidence Separation between claim and evidence

The main take-away messages (max 3) Miniature of supporting visual for each message Visuals hyperlinked to corresponding slide Take-Away slide In conclusion

Text designed to be readable Use fonts without serif instead of serif fonts. Use font size 24 and above Use white background with black letters. Avoid fluorescent colours, use saturated colours r Serif Text

Images redrawn for readability 152*178 pixels One pixel line Wavelength (nm) nm 285*384 pixels 60% brightness 62% contrast Original Stretched and Enhanced Redrawn and readable Unreadable

11 key principles 1. Do not put on slide what you do not intend to present, to explain, or to be asked questions about. 2.Never put new information on a take-away slide. 3.The presentation is a story that is progressive, and logical. 4.The point of each slide is made in the top sentence: not what you did, but the result of what you did. 5.Avoid using fluorescent or light colours for text and lines. 6.Increase contrast and colour saturation of images. 7.Use bold sans serif white letters on a dark background, and bold black sans serif letters on pale backgrounds. 8.Rehearse with someone not familiar with your material. 9.Gestures and movement are human, stillness is robotic. 10.Redo or simplify all tables, formulas, chemical reactions, & visuals from your paper to increase readability. 11.Less is more.

11 principles (for print) 1) Do not put on slide what you do not intend to present, to explain, or to be asked questions about. 2) Never put new information on a take-away slide. 3) The presentation is a story that is progressive, and logical. 4) The point of each slide is made in the top sentence: not what you did, but the result of what you did. 5) Avoid using fluorescent or light colours for text and lines; 6) Increase contrast and colour saturation of images. 7) Use bold sans serif white letters on a dark background, and bold black sans serif letters on a pale background. 8) Rehearse with someone not familiar with your material. 9) Gestures and movement are human, stillness is robotic. 10) Redo or simplify all tables, formulas, chemical reactions, and visuals from your slides to increase readability. 11) Less is more.

Presentation evaluation criteria Time handling Questions Title slide Readability / audibility Hook Transitions Sync Graphics Presenter Science

Questions Questions are rephrased (differently for each) Questioner is not interrupted (except to clarify or cut short long comment) Answer is short, clear, and to the point Speaker gives visual/audio cues to indicate whose question will be taken next Speaker deals appropriately with irrelevant questions and troublesome questioners

Title Slide Speaker does not look at title slide at all. Title is paraphrased in words anyone can understand Speaker smiles, looks at everyone, and extends greetings Speaker thanks Chairperson and does not repeat the Chair’s introductory words

Readability / Audibility Anything on any slide is readable Speaker is clearly heard (good handling of wireless mike) Speaker speech is intelligible

Hook Hook is close to the title Hook is interesting Hook is short ( 1.5 minute or less) Expectations raised by hook are fulfilled by the time the take-away slide is shown

Transitions Speaker introduces new slides before they appear Audience is not surprised by the content of a new slide Slide transitions (B-Key or others) are appropriately used

In Sync with audience Speaker introduces content of next slide before it appears Upcoming same slide information is hidden (layered) or veiled if necessary Black slide or B-Key are used to resynchronize or avoid disconnect between what is heard and what is seen Speed of speech, and pacing of information delivery is adequate for non-experts and non-native English speakers

Graphics Axes (particularly vertical axis) and their units are presented. Legends are close to curves/ lines (not in separate box) Speaker explains everything on graphic – source of visual is clear Graphic is self-contained and stand-alone (no memory recall is necessary) Slide header sentence is claim, visual is proof

Take-Away slide Impact of research and meaning of results are clearly stated Take-away messages are reconnected to hook This last slide is not rushed Nothing new is claimed Speaker is positive and optimistic

Presenter qualities Confident and pleasant Good attire / look Supportive gestures Frequent individual eye contact Clear interest in own presentation topic

Scientific qualities Expectations raised by the title of the presentation and by the hook are met Science was clear and sufficiently convincing Presentation creates interest in the topic

To prepare for the course Read the trainer’s website: Prepare your seven / eight slide presentation 3 Brush up on your PowerPoint skills (The trainer’s website also contains video tutorials)