Making an effective oral scientific presentation

Tina Thompson

July, 2011

The basics of all effective presentations

Keep it simple Tell a complete story Provide relevant background information Describe methods briefly Focus on data Draw conclusions for audience Summarize significance of findings Credit collaborators and funding source

The 3 Keys

Know your audience

Know your time limit

Know your subject

Basic Order

Title slide Introduction Methods Results Summary Acknowledgements

Title Slide

Title SlideSuccinctly state the project

Effect of 6-OHDA lesions of the Prefrontal cortex on subcortical DAergic activity

Animal model of schizophrenia

Introduction

BackgroundBriefly describe the published literature on the

topic Describe how your study will advance the

fieldBasically, why is your study important andWhat is your research question

Method Slides

Briefly describe the methods essential for the studyDescribe the survey instrument

Don’t describe every thought process that went into developing the instrument

Describe the method used to measure changes in mRNA levels

Don’t provide every chemical in each buffer

VTA

N.Acc

mPFC

DA

DA EAAEAA

6-OHDA Lesioninhibitoryexcitatory

6-OHDA

Result Slides

Provide a title for each data slide Show the data Use multiple presentation formats if possible

No one wants to look at 5 identical data slides

Present your data Lead the audience through the slides

Draw conclusions for the audience

Comparison of DA uptake in adult male and female rats

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0 2 4 6 8 10 12Rate (µM/sec)

[DA

] µ

M

At all [DA] females clear DA faster than males

Quinpirole Emax (%stimulation)

EC50 (µM)

Control 19.4±1.1 2.2±0.44

NIPS 11.2±1.5* 1.6±1.5

Effect of NIPS on [35S]-GTPγS binding

NIPS results in a 42% reduction in D2 activation

Summary Slide

Summarize the data Don’t just restate the data

Emphasize the significance of the findingsNew information have you contributed to the

field Provide an indication of future directions

This gives you ‘ownership’

Summary

These data suggest that inherent sex differences in mesolimbic DAergic regulation may increase the vulnerability of males to insult and this vulnerability may have lasting effects into adulthood.

Acknowledgement Slide

Collaborators Don’t read a laundry

list

Funding Support NIH grant # American Heart Award NSF etc

Presentation Basics

Know your time limit1 slide/1 minute

Use large fontThis is 28 This is 20 This is 16

Presentation Basics

Less is better

Use phrases Sentences can be too difficult for the audience to

follow and you don’t want them to read, you want them to be listening to what you have to say

Use drawings or schemes for clarity

Basics

DO NOT USE ALL CAPITAL LETTERS It makes it too difficult to read

Do not use fancy fontsThis is ArialThis is Bookman old style

This is Informal Roman

Basics

Keep the background simple and consistent on all the slides

Do not overuse Clip Art Try to keep the slide layout consistent from slide

to slide

Color Basics

Use light background and black letter

Use color sparingly

Or dark background and white letters

Avoid overuse of animation

Animation takes away from your data

Avoid sound effects

Limit use of transitions

Never opt for style over substance

The goal is to effectively present your data not to distract your audience.

Practice, practice, practice

Prepare your presentation well in advance Practice in a room similar to the one you will use Time yourself Edit Practice first alone then with colleagues Maintain eye contact with audience Edit Breath

Review

Keep it simple Tell a story Show the data Draw the conclusions State the significance Give credit

Questions?