1. Making Presentations at Science Conferences Bruce Gnade, Ph.D. University of Texas Touradj Solouki, Ph.D. Baylor University

2. Conference Presentations ©2012 CRDF Global Giving a Successful Presentation Preparation Organization Format and design Presentation style Taking questions

3. Conference Presentations ©2012 CRDF Global Preparation Read the conference guidelines  Time allowed  Space available  Equipment available o Projector o Laser pointer o Computer o Translation  Ask if it isn’t clear

4. Conference Presentations ©2012 CRDF Global Preparation Know the audience  how many?  technical background?  expectations?

5. Conference Presentations ©2012 CRDF Global Giving a Successful Presentation Preparation Organization Format and design Presentation style Taking questions

6. Conference Presentations ©2012 CRDF Global Organization of a Presentation Introduction Background Methods Results Interpretation Conclusions General Big Picture General Big Picture Narrow Specific Focused

7. Conference Presentations ©2012 CRDF Global Title Page

8. Conference Presentations ©2012 CRDF Global Introduction What do we know already? (broad overview)

9. Conference Presentations ©2012 CRDF Global Introduction Why is this topic important or interesting?

10. Conference Presentations ©2012 CRDF Global Introduction Why should we care about this?

11. Conference Presentations ©2012 CRDF Global Introduction At the end of the Introduction, explain the reason for your research and its importance. “One mechanism for people to be exposed to lead is through water. This study focuses on the sources and concentration of lead in a river heavily polluted with lead from a copper mine.”

12. Conference Presentations ©2012 CRDF Global Background Provide the specific facts needed to understand the research

13. Conference Presentations ©2012 CRDF Global Background Sample location map

14. Conference Presentations ©2012 CRDF Global Methods Can I trust your data? Why should I believe you?

15. Conference Presentations ©2012 CRDF Global Results A picture is worth 1000 words (at least)

16. Conference Presentations ©2012 CRDF Global Interpretation What are the data telling you? What do they mean?

17. Conference Presentations ©2012 CRDF Global Conclusions Clearly summarize what you’ve learned and why it’s important (step back from the picture)

18. Conference Presentations ©2012 CRDF Global Giving a Successful Presentation Preparation Organization Format and design Presentation style Taking questions

19. Conference Presentations ©2012 CRDF Global Font Size This is 12 point type This is 16 point type This is 20 point type This is 24 point type This is 28 point type This is 32 point type This is 36 point type This is 40 point type This is 48 point type Use a font size that your audience can read.

20. Conference Presentations ©2012 CRDF Global Font Choice Use a consistent font throughout the presentation If you change fonts it signals the audience that something significant has changed So, only change fonts for a definite reason And be cautious in doing it The same is true of font color

21. Conference Presentations ©2012 CRDF Global Color Don’t give your audience a headache!

22. Conference Presentations ©2012 CRDF Global Inventory of Pesticides (2007) District of AlmatyName of PesticideAmount (kg) Karasaimixture600 TalgarProtrazin, atrazin, trephlan, ziazin, and mixture 31,150 DzhambulPropazin and mixture107,700 Enbekchi-KazakhNitrophen, alineks, temik, saiphos, metaphos, and others 9,150 Total224,100

23. Conference Presentations ©2012 CRDF Global Text List topics—save the details for speaking

24. Conference Presentations ©2012 CRDF Global Text Animations Text animations Look silly They annoy your audience And they do not contribute Anything Do not use them Please

25. Conference Presentations ©2012 CRDF Global Charts and Graphs

26. Conference Presentations ©2012 CRDF Global Giving a Successful Presentation Preparation Organization Format and design Presentation style Taking questions

27. Conference Presentations ©2012 CRDF Global Presentation Style Tell a story (you are not a robot) Make sure everyone can hear you Look at your audience one by one Stand up Walk around Point to the screen with your hand Don’t talk too fast Pause when you need to Breath

28. Conference Presentations ©2012 CRDF Global Giving a Successful Presentation Preparation Organization Format and design Presentation style Taking questions

29. Conference Presentations ©2012 CRDF Global Taking Questions Listen Clarify the question if you don’t understand Understand the point behind the question Answer the question—then stop You don’t need to know the answer Explain what you know Defer extensive discussion for later

30. Conference Presentations ©2012 CRDF Global Poster Presentation Title 120 point type; <10 words Abstract Introduction Background Methods Results Discussion Conclusions

31. Conference Presentations ©2012 CRDF Global Poster Presentation Attend your poster Print copies for people to take Place you contact cards for people to take Place reprints of your publications for people to take Put you poster up as early as possible Leave it up as long as possible Remove it at the end of the conference