1. POWERPOINT PRESENTATION SKILLS FOR SCIENTISTS
Diane Hannemann
McDougal Fellow,
Careers & Professional Development
&
Anindita Sinha
McDougal Fellow, Academic Writing

2. Keys to a Successful Presentation
Know your Audience
Make it Clear!
The Heart of the Matter: Sharp Figures & Pretty Pictures
Prepare & Practice
Zzzzzz …
How You Say it Matters
Not Compatible?
Closure

3. Know Your Audience
In your field - can jump in with brief background; non-experts - need more set-up
Purpose of your talk (Convince? Update? Teach?)
Communicate with your audience
* size matters
* formal vs. discussion format
Convey your enthusiasm about your work
Don’t talk over their heads; don’t talk down to them

4. Make it Clear - Structure
OUTLINE FIRST!!
Controls number of slides & provides balance
- Budget 2-3 minutes/slide (e.g. 30’ talk = slides)
Have one story to tell:
- decide on underlying issue to be addressed
- divide into logical, heirarchical subquestions
- talk should be series of answers to these questions
Zoom-In (intro) and Zoom-Out (closure)

5. Make it Clear - Concept Style & format
- use color to highlight & organize
- be consistent (audience knows where to look)
Read through presentation and see if main points stand-out
- Heading = WHAT or HOW
- Summary statement = CONCLUSION
“Speaker Support”
- It doesn’t carry you -- you are the focus
- It supports your message

6. Make it Clear - Don’t Lose ‘em
Science talk vs. murder mystery -- don’t keep you’re audience hanging!
Know the fuzzy borders between experimental evidence and speculation (affects how you formulate your sentences)
One concept per slide cluster examples rather than moving through series too quickly
Make sure you can be heard!
Frustrate your audience & you lose them!

7. The Heart of the Matter: Sharp Figures & Pretty Pictures
Clear title
Highlight particular areas/words
Don’t crowd with too much info
Give credit where credit due
- reference published data; borrowed figures

8. The Heart of the Matter: Sharp Figures & Pretty Pictures
Show bad
showing a lot of unreadable info “for effect” - bad!
if it can’t be read -- it’s a waste & it annoys audience

9. The Heart of the Matter: Sharp Figures & Pretty Pictures
Show bad

10. The Heart of the Matter: Sharp Figures & Pretty Pictures
GOOD
(some showmanship here)

11. The Heart of the Matter: Sharp Figures & Pretty Pictures
GOOD
Use one of Jen’s figure slides color-coded parts, etc.

12. Prepare & Practice Timing (how many slides & length of talk)
Memorize intro and first few lines
Beware of overpracticing
* Don’t memorize entire talk -- stiff & BORING!!
* 1X = 10-fold improvement
* 2X = twice as good
* 3X = polish

13. Zzzzzz … Talk to your audience (eye contact, conversational style)
Engage your audience by asking questions
Keep it interesting:
- share interesting tidbits
- give unique examples/analogies
- humor disturbs slumber
Tiny type kills (use at least 18 point font ... ?)
If you’re bored, you’re audience is snoring!

14. How You Say it Matters Slow down! Don’t read your slides - use as cues
VERBAL SKILLS
Slow down!
Don’t read your slides - use as cues
Vary voice tone (conversational)
Genuine enthusiasm
SPEAK-UP
BODY LANGUAGE
Eye contact
Stand straight - breathe
Don’t overgesture with pointer, etc.
Face your audience

15. Not Compatible? Ask ahead of time what equipment provided:
- overhead projector vs. Powerpoint
What format used:
- PC vs. Mac?
What type of disk acceptable:
- floppy vs. Zip 100, Zip 250?
Emergency back-ups:
- overheads
- handouts

16. Closure Summary of conclusions
Zoom-out (relevance or application of your work)
Next steps (if appropriate)
Acknowledgements

17. Scientific Talks - Summary
1. Know your audience & their needs
2. Tell them a clear story developing each point upon the previous
3. Show them the evidence (sharp figures)
4. Keep them awake by engaging them
5. Give them great delivery -- prepare, practice & SPEAK-UP!
6. Share your enthusiasm for your work
7. Sell your message with a strong summary of conclusions
Most importantly - Have Fun!