Critical Mistakes in Scientific Presentations

1
Critical Mistakes in Scientific Presentations
based off of the bookThe Craft of Scientific
Presentations by Michael Alley

• Paul McGrath
• March 5, 2008

2
Critical Mistakes in Scientific Presentations
based off of the bookThe Craft of Scientific
Presentations by Michael Alley

• Paul McGrath
• March 5, 2008

3
Critical Mistakes in Scientific Presentations
based off of the bookThe Craft of Scientific
Presentations by Michael Alley

• Paul McGrath
• March 5, 2008

4
The four aspects of a presentation allow us to
categorize mistakes.
Speech
Strategy
Visual Aids
Delivery
5
The words you choose and how you remember them
are crucial.
Error 1 Giving the Wrong Speech for the
Occasion Error 2 Drawing Words from the Wrong
Well
Speech
6
Error 1 Choosing your words depends on more
than the material you wish to present.
Will the audience understand the points you
intend to make?
Targeting the Audience
Will the audience be interested in these points?
.. so if you vary the Einstein-Hilbert action..
7
Error 1 Choosing you words depends on more than
the material you wish to present.
Will the audience understand the points you
intend to make?
Targeting the Audience
Will the audience be interested in these points?
Informing?
Recognizing the Purpose
Persuading?
Inspiring?
8
Error 1 Choosing you words depends on more than
the material you wish to present.
Will the audience understand the points you
intend to make?
Targeting the Audience
Will the audience be interested in these points?
Informing?
Recognizing the Purpose
Persuading?
Inspiring?
Where is the presentation?
Addressing the Occasion
What time is the presentation?
9
Error 2 How you remember what to say depends on
the occasion.
10
A good strategy keeps the audience well-oriented
and focused throughout the presentation.
Error 3 Leaving the Audience at the
Dock Error 4 Losing the Audience at Sea
Strategy
11
Error 3 You must anticipate the audiences
initial questions or risk losing them right away.
What exactly is the subject?
A quick review is always welcome.
Why is the subject important?
Give the audience a reason to pay attention.
What background is needed?
State early on what you expect the audience to
know.
In what order will it be presented?
Map out the presentation, memorably, so that
listeners can pace themselves.
12
Error 3 You must anticipate the audiences
initial questions or risk losing them right away.
What exactly is the subject?
A quick review is always welcome.
Why is the subject important?
Give the audience a reason to pay attention.
What background is needed?
State early on what you expect the audience to
know.
In what order will it be presented?
Map out the presentation, memorably, so that
listeners can pace themselves.
13
Error 3 You must anticipate the audiences
initial questions or risk losing them right away.
What exactly is the subject?
A quick review is always welcome.
Why is the subject important?
Give the audience a reason to pay attention.
What background is needed?
State early on what you expect the audience to
know.
In what order will it be presented?
Map out the presentation, memorably, so that
listeners can pace themselves.
14
Error 3 You must anticipate the audiences
initial questions or risk losing them right away.
What exactly is the subject?
A quick review is always welcome.
Why is the subject important?
Give the audience a reason to pay attention.
What background is needed?
State early on what you expect the audience to
know.
In what order will it be presented?
Map out the presentation, memorably, so that
listeners can pace themselves.
15
Error 3 You must anticipate the audiences
initial questions or risk losing them right away.
Talk Outline

• Introduction
• Launch Preparation
• Launch Procedures
• In Flight Procedures
• Landing Scenarios
• Surface Exploration
• Conclusions
• Questions

Map out the presentation, memorably, so that
listeners can pace themselves.
16
Error 3 You must anticipate the audiences
initial questions or risk losing them right away.
Mission to Mars
Talk Outline

• Introduction
• Launch Preparation
• Launch Procedures
• In Flight Procedures
• Landing Scenarios
• Surface Exploration
• Conclusions
• Questions

Prelaunch
Flight
The Red Planet
Map out the presentation, memorably, so that
listeners can pace themselves.
17
Error 4 If the journey isnt smooth the
audience will quickly lose focus.
Remember the audience is not reading a paper.
If they get confused they cant skip back and
forth and neither should you.
Show confidence in the material you are
presenting.
Find a balance between what you are comfortable
with and new ideas.
Avoid giving too much detail.
Slideshow should be an overview of your work,
emphasize qualitative results.
Warn the audience before you change course.
A quick summary reinforces the important material
and lets the audience know youre moving on.
Especially important before you move to
conclusions.
18
Error 4 If the journey isnt smooth the
audience will quickly lose focus.
Remember the audience is not reading a paper.
If they get confused they cant skip back and
forth and neither should you.
Show confidence in the material you are
presenting.
Find a balance between what you are comfortable
with and new ideas.
Avoid giving too much detail.
Slideshow should be an overview of your work,
emphasize qualitative results.
Warn the audience before you change course.
A quick summary reinforces the important material
and lets the audience know youre moving on.
Especially important before you move to
conclusions.
19
Error 4 If the journey isnt smooth the
audience will quickly lose focus.
Remember the audience is not reading a paper.
If they get confused they cant skip back and
forth and neither should you.
Show confidence in the material you are
presenting.
Find a balance between what you are comfortable
with and new ideas.
Avoid giving too much detail.
Slideshow should be an overview of your work,
emphasize qualitative results.
Warn the audience before you change course.
A quick summary reinforces the important material
and lets the audience know youre moving on.
Especially important before you move to
conclusions.
20
Error 4 If the journey isnt smooth the
audience will quickly lose focus.
Remember the audience is not reading a paper.
If they get confused they cant skip back and
forth and neither should you.
Show confidence in the material you are
presenting.
Find a balance between what you are comfortable
with and new ideas.
Avoid giving too much detail.
Slideshow should be an overview of your work,
emphasize qualitative results.
Warn the audience before you change course.
A quick summary reinforces the important material
and lets the audience know youre moving on.
Especially important before you move to
conclusions.
21
Each slide needs to have a purpose and the more
important it is the more memorable it must be.
Error 5 Projecting Slides that No One
Reads Error 6 Projecting Slides that No One
Remembers Error 7 Forgetting Murphys Law
Visual Aids
22
Error 5 A poorly designed slide is difficult
for the audience to digest.
TYPOGRAPHY
Typography
Typography
Typography
Colour
Colour
Colour
Colour
23
Error 5 A poorly designed slide is difficult
for the audience to digest.
Layout
Use sentence headers to summarize slides.
Avoid more that two lines per block of text.
More than two lines per text block can begin to
look cluttered. Most points can be made in one
line and then you can add anything else you want
to point out verbally.
Be generous with white space (not too generous).
24
Error 5 A poorly designed slide is difficult
for the audience to digest.
Layout
Use sentence headers to summarize slides.
Avoid more that two lines per block of text.
More than two lines per text block can begin to
look cluttered. Most points can be made in one
line and then you can add anything else you want
to point out verbally.
Be generous with white space (not too generous).
25
Error 6 Slides with key results must be
emphasized.
Images are easier to recall than words or
equations.
Reinforce the key results.
Let the audience know how youve organized the
presentation.
Conclusions should be left up.
26
Error 6 Slides with key results must be
emphasized.
Images are easier to recall than words or
equations.
Reinforce the key results.
Let the audience know how youve organized the
presentation.
Talk Outline
Mission to Mars

• Introduction
• Launch Preparation
• Launch Procedures
• In Flight Procedures
• Landing Scenarios
• Surface Exploration
• Conclusions
• Questions

Prelaunch
Flight
The Red Planet
Conclusions should be left up.
27
Error 6 Slides with key results must be
emphasized.
Images are easier to recall than words or
equations.
Reinforce the key results.
Let the audience know how youve organized the
presentation.
Talk Outline
Mission to Mars

• Introduction
• Launch Preparation
• Launch Procedures
• In Flight Procedures
• Landing Scenarios
• Surface Exploration
• Conclusions
• Questions

Prelaunch
Flight
The Red Planet
Conclusions should be left up.
Conclusions
Conclusions
Conclusions
There was no way for humans to have built the
pyramids. It must have been aliens.
There was no way for humans to have built the
pyramids. It must have been aliens.
There was no way for humans to have built the
pyramids. It must have been aliens.
?
Questions?
28
Error 7 Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong.
Some disasters can be avoided if you plan for
them.
Rehearse
Arrive early
Presentation
29
Your delivery affects how intently the audience
listens and even if they trust what you say.
Error 8 Not Preparing Enough Error 9 Not
Paying Attention Error 10 Losing Composure
Delivery
30
Error 8 A successful presentation takes a lot
of preparation.
Organizing Your Thoughts
Present your ideas in a logical fashion.
Preparing Visual Aids
They can make or break a presentation.
Preparing Yourself
Practice you presentation in full.
31
Error 8 A successful presentation takes a lot
of preparation.
Organizing Your Thoughts
Present your ideas in a logical fashion.
Preparing Visual Aids
They can make or break a presentation.
Preparing Yourself
Practice you presentation in full.
32
Error 8 A successful presentation takes a lot
of preparation.
Organizing Your Thoughts
Present your ideas in a logical fashion.
Preparing Visual Aids
They can make or break a presentation.
Preparing Yourself
Practice you presentation in full.
33
Error 9 The audience wants the time spent at a
talk to be worthwhile.
Paying Attention to the Room
Arrive early so that you can adjust yourself to
the environment of adjust the environment to suit
you.
Paying Attention to Yourself
Attire
Movements
Eye Contact
Voice
Paying Attention to the Audience
Even when they are not asking questions they are
communicating to you.
Paying Attention to the Time
Going overtime can have serious consequences.
34
Error 9 The audience wants the time spent at a
talk to be worthwhile.
Paying Attention to the Room
Arrive early so that you can adjust yourself to
the environment of adjust the environment to suit
you.
Paying Attention to Yourself
Attire
Movements
Eye Contact
Voice
Paying Attention to the Audience
Even when they are not asking questions they are
communicating to you.
Paying Attention to the Time
Going overtime can have serious consequences.
35
Error 9 The audience wants the time spent at a
talk to be worthwhile.
Paying Attention to the Room
Arrive early so that you can adjust yourself to
the environment of adjust the environment to suit
you.
Paying Attention to Yourself
Attire
Movements
Eye Contact
Voice
Paying Attention to the Audience
Even when they are not asking questions they are
communicating to you.
Paying Attention to the Time
Going overtime can have serious consequences.
36
Error 9 The audience wants the time spent at a
talk to be worthwhile.
Paying Attention to the Room
Arrive early so that you can adjust yourself to
the environment of adjust the environment to suit
you.
Paying Attention to Yourself
Attire
Movements
Eye Contact
Voice
Paying Attention to the Audience
Even when they are not asking questions they are
communicating to you.
Paying Attention to the Time
Going overtime can have serious consequences.
37
Error 10 If you lose your composure your
credibility may be undercut.
Controlling Your Nervousness
According to most studies, people's number one
fear is public speaking. Number two is death.
Death is number two. This means that, at a
funeral, the average person would rather be in
the casket than doing the eulogy. Jerry
Seinfeld
There is no sure fire solution but there are
tricks that may help.
Handling Questions
The audience would prefer a clear and concise
answer so pause and think before you respond.
38
Error 10 If you lose your composure your
credibility may be undercut.
Controlling Your Nervousness
According to most studies, people's number one
fear is public speaking. Number two is death.
Death is number two. This means that, at a
funeral, the average person would rather be in
the casket than doing the eulogy. Jerry
Seinfeld
There is no sure fire solution but there are
tricks that may help.
Handling Questions
The audience would prefer a clear and concise
answer so pause and think before you respond.
39
Final Thoughts
Presenting is an important and essential part of
a scientists career. People invest a lot of time
into listening to your talks and want them to be
worthwhile. If you want to reach your peers
effectively then dont settle for giving a run of
the mill presentation. Always strive to make
improvements in your presentation techniques.
40
Final Thoughts
Presenting is an important and essential part of
a scientists career. People invest a lot of time
into listening to your talks and want them to be
worthwhile. If you want to reach your peers
effectively then dont settle for giving a run of
the mill presentation. Always strive to make
improvements in your presentation techniques.
Questions?