1. Making a good technical presentation

2. Outline Opening remarks Presentation organization Visual aids Timing
Summary

3. Opening remarks Many scientists give poor presentations
First, determine ideas you want to convey
Time is generally short so you must be efficient
Audience background?
Speak clearly and directly
Presentation as performance
Limit jokes, side comments, “ums”, “ahs”, and “OK’s”
Look at the audience
Rehearse!

4. Organization Begin with an outline Provide motivation for topic
Summarize experimental approach
Present results
Discuss results and their implications
Summarize

5. Visual aids - I Text 36 Text 28 Minimize text Keep text legible
< 8 bullets per page
No long sentences
Keep text legible
> 20 pt desirable
Dark text on light background or reverse
Limit animation
Use tables sparingly and keep them simple
Text 36
Text 28
Text 24
Text 20
Text 16
Text 12
Text 10

6. Visual aids - II Figure guidelines Explain your figures
Simpler is better
Keep text legible
Choose strongly contrasting colors
Include error info
Don’t use Excel defaults!
Explain your figures
Limit number of figures

7. Timing Time allotted for presentation and questions
AT560: minutes
Allow ~ minutes per slide
Allocate time in proportion to topic’s importance
Rehearse at least twice for timing
Simplify or remove slides to adjust timing
Sleep on it

8. Summary Remind audience of important findings and their implications
Use brief bulleted points
Point out next steps (if appropriate)
Acknowledge assistance (if not done earlier)

9. AT560 presentations 20-25 minute presentations (+ questions)
Major basis for project grade
Content
Style and clarity
Timing
Monday: Rena and Brian
Wednesday: Everyone else