Making a good technical presentation

1. Making a good technical presentation AT560

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 • Minimize text • < 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 • 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: 20-25 minutes • Allow ~ 1-1.5 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