Giving a Great Science Talk

Vitals & Key IngredientsVitals & Key Ingredients

3 Categories:3 Categories:

I. Vital ElementsI. Vital Elements

II. Mechanics of the II. Mechanics of the PresentationPresentation

III. Speaker PerformanceIII. Speaker Performance

Giving a Great Giving a Great Science TalkScience Talk

If your audience walks away If your audience walks away understanding understanding your your main points, main points, gains new appreciation gains new appreciation for (or is for (or is convinced of) them, and convinced of) them, and remembers remembers them, then them, then you’ve done your job. you’ve done your job.

I. Your purpose is to communicate, convince, and teachI. Your purpose is to communicate, convince, and teach Now here’s

the main point!

I. Motivate, Introduce, & Outline Talk

II. Strategy, Methods, Data

III. Results, Interpetations

IV. Your Conclusions

II. The scientific format helps bring your audience on a journey of scientific deduction and discovery.


Tell’em what your gonna tell them

Tell them

Tell’em what you told them.

Giving a Great Science Talk:Giving a Great Science Talk:II. Presentation Mechanics & II. Presentation Mechanics &

III. Speaker Performance III. Speaker Performance Garrett Apuzen-ItoGarrett Apuzen-Ito

Dept. of Geology & Geophysics, SOEST, University of HawaiiDept. of Geology & Geophysics, SOEST, University of Hawaii

You will be most effective at:You will be most effective at:•Communicating, convincing, teaching &Communicating, convincing, teaching &•Your scientific format conveys a logical story Your scientific format conveys a logical story of deduction & discoveryof deduction & discovery

If...If...II. II. Your presentation Your presentation is understandable, illustrative, effectiveis understandable, illustrative, effective

III. III. YOUYOU are understandable, confident, relate to your audience are understandable, confident, relate to your audience

First Lets CoverFirst Lets CoverII. Presentation MechanicsII. Presentation Mechanics

Introduction & Motivation: (~2 minutes) -conveys why the study is important -clearly defines the problem/question/hypothesis -outlines what’s to come (method & even conclusions)Method: how to address the problem (1-2 minutes) -data, experimental design, theory, analyses Results/Findings of Method (2-4 minutes) -quantitative/objective products of methodInterpretations of Findings (2-4 minutes) -what can be inferred from results? -what should not be inferred (i.e., limitations)?Conclusions: answers to the problem (1 minute) -reiterate problem and 1-3 memorable conclusions

II. Presentation Mechanics: II. Presentation Mechanics: TIMINGTIMING 12-minute 12-minute research (i.e., for final projects)research (i.e., for final projects) talk talk

(about 1 minute per slide)(about 1 minute per slide)

A

B

Introduction & Motivation: (~2 minutes) -conveys why the topic is important/interesting -clearly defines the problem/question/hypothesis -outlines what’s to come (method & even conclusions)

Strategy and Concepts (1-4 minutes)

Build Evidence, Key Ideas, & (4-6 minutes)Main Points

Conclusions: (1 minute) -reiterate problem and 1-3 memorable conclusions

II. Presentation Mechanics: TIMINGII. Presentation Mechanics: TIMING12-minute 12-minute general science (e.g., upcoming practice) general science (e.g., upcoming practice) talks talks

(about 1 minute per slide)(about 1 minute per slide)

A

B

First Lets CoverFirst Lets CoverII. Presentation MechanicsII. Presentation Mechanics

Image Content: Image Content: How much content is How much content is appropriate for ~1 minute per slide, AND appropriate for ~1 minute per slide, AND

considering that this is the 1considering that this is the 1stst and only time and only time your audience will see the slide?your audience will see the slide?

Image Content: Image Content: How much content is appropriate for ~1 minute per slide, AND How much content is appropriate for ~1 minute per slide, AND considering that this is the 1considering that this is the 1stst and only time your audience will see the slide? and only time your audience will see the slide?

Image Content: Image Content: How much content is appropriate for ~1 minute per slide, AND How much content is appropriate for ~1 minute per slide, AND considering that this is the 1considering that this is the 1stst and only time your audience will see the slide? and only time your audience will see the slide?

Enough to get 1-3 points across Enough to get 1-3 points across and NO more.and NO more.

BUT if you want to get to a point of showing lots of concepts togetherBUT if you want to get to a point of showing lots of concepts together

Then start SIMPLE…..Then start SIMPLE…..

Allow your audience to absorb as you build…..Allow your audience to absorb as you build…..

More and more information gradually….More and more information gradually….

Until you reach the full content.Until you reach the full content.

Oh, and about showing PLOTS…Oh, and about showing PLOTS…Remember you are asking your audience to absorb the plot in ~1

minute so do them a favor. Take the time to describe each axis of the plot and point out the key trends that they are supposed to catch

Building text gradually is appropriateBuilding text gradually is appropriateWhen you have 1-3 points you want to buildWhen you have 1-3 points you want to build

But don’t go overboardBut don’t go overboard

Because you audience can see the blank space belowBecause you audience can see the blank space below

& will start wondering whats coming next rather than & will start wondering whats coming next rather than focusing on the points you are trying to make focusing on the points you are trying to make

And this can be a bit distracting,And this can be a bit distracting,

annoying,annoying,

Let alone, time consuming!Let alone, time consuming!

Each “slide” should contain Each “slide” should contain enough content to make 1-3 enough content to make 1-3

points and NO more.points and NO more.

Image Layout: Balance the Image Layout: Balance the size of text and images size of text and images

3He/

4He

87Sr

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Square-Root Seafloor Age (m.y.1/2)

30

1020

0

0.70300.7020

0.70400.70500.7060

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Is this better?Is this better?

3He/

4He

87Sr

/86S

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Square-Root Seafloor Age (m.y.1/2)

30

10

20

0

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0.70400.70500.7060

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Is this better?Is this better?

How much text is appropriate for each slide?

About as much as they can read in ~1 minute.AND it helps to support text with images.

What about Colors? Black and White can be adequate

Use colors to distinguish, emphasize, clarify, & add a bit of life

IF they are used APPROPRIATELY!

Keep ‘em tasteful and professional

What about Powerpoint Animations and Tricks?

Use them to add a “bit” of variety, illustrate a point, &/or for emphasis. For example…..

But its better to error on the conservative so as not to cause a DISTRACTION

Image DesignImage Design

What about YOU?What about YOU?

Speaker PerformanceVoice

•PROJECT

•Vary pitch, vary speed

•Punctuate with pauses (avoid monotone)

Movement

•Use deliberate hand gestures

•Moving around to reach out to audience

•Minimize nervous tics

Attitude

•Be natural

•Be enthusiastic

•Smile

Occasional Humor Helps

Pointing specifies & focuses attention

Systematic Fault Patterns on Earth

Speak accurately. 12 minutes is not timefor meaningless words/non-words…

“Like”

“Ya-know”

“Uhhh”

“Uhmm”

•Repeat or summarize the question; if needed, paraphrase it to your advantage

•Answer simple factual questions right away

•Never bluff. If a question comes up that you cannot answer, say so… strategically.

“I’ll have to give that some more thought….”

“Good question, I hadn’t thought of it in that way before. Lets have a beer and discuss this further.” (they might even buy you one)

Answering Questions

Preparation

Practice/Rehearse

• until the timing is right• until you know exactly what you are going to say with each slide• but do not over-rehearse so you loose your flare

Preparation

Know your audience

Know your venue and equipment

Check:

projectors

pointer

microphones

platformBy the way, its ok if your colors do not appear exactly as you do onyour laptop. If you must mention so, do it only once & move on!

Giving a Great Science Talk

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