1. Presentation skills
Dr S. A. Pope

2. Overview When will you be required to give a presentation?
The purpose of presentations
General guidelines
Overcoming your fears

3. When will you be required to give a presentation?
Conferences
Research group meetings
Seminars
Industrial collaboration meetings
PhD upgrade/confirmation
Your viva?

4. The purpose of presentations
To communicate your research
Who is the most important person?
An opportunity to solicit feedback
It is not an opportunity to show people how much you know!

5. General guidelines: Level
Know your audience – i.e. pitch your presentation at the correct level
Highlight/emphasise important points
Once you lose an audiences attention it can be difficult to get it back

6. General guidelines: Media
Usually PowerPoint or pdf
Some conferences will have templates
Colours?

7. General guidelines: Media
Usually PowerPoint or pdf
Some conferences will have templates
Colours?
Animations?
Laser pointer – sometimes available
Slide clicker – sometimes available
Check the guidelines before

8. General guidelines: Timing
Conference presentations are usually minutes (this may include questions and changeover)
Speed – don’t be afraid to pause (and think) – gives the audience time to process information
Length – 1 slide every 1-3 minutes as a general rule.

9. General guidelines: Structure
Title + authors + affiliations
Overview (personal choice)
Background (Context – Related work)
Contribution (Theory – Sim/Exp – Results)
Summary/Conclusion
Really important

10. General guidelines: Content
What is the purpose of an oral presentation?
Don’t include too much information - its not a poster
Emphasis should be on describing and explaining your work with the help of aids
The audience can’t usually fully take in written and oral information at the same time.

11. Pictures/figures can get peoples attention

12. Videos can be a useful way to explain some ideas
Check that videos work on the equipment that you will use during the presentation
Chimpanzee riding on a Segway

13. General guidelines: Content
Diagrams
Graphs
Tables
Equations – be careful
Text - short bullet points
Describe what they show

14. General guidelines: Content

15. General guidelines: Content
Emphasise/highlight important points
Try to stimulate the audiences interest
Keep on topic and be concise
Summarise – at the end and mid way through if needed

16. General guidelines: Delivery
Talk to your audience (not the floor or board)
Prepare/practice
If possible don’t use notes – should be ok for 15 minutes.
Speed

17. Over coming your fears Some people are naturals – a lot are not
Practice
On your own
With friends/family
You will improve with each presentation
Ask for feedback from colleagues

18. Summary Know your audience Present to your audience
Engage your audience
Practice
Structure your presentation
Don’t include too much