Environmental Science Seminar (ES2111) Spring 2003

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Environmental Science Seminar (ES2111)Spring 2003

• Communicating Scientific Results

Aisling D. OSullivan, Ph.D. Visiting
Post-Doctoral Fellow The University of Oklahoma,
Norman, OK
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Objectives

• Tell a story
• Inform audience
• Stimulate discussion

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Style

• Chronological order
• Logical progression
• Simple yet informative

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Where to start?

• Identify
• What data you wish to show
• Who your audience are
• How much time you have
• ESSENTIAL PREPARATION

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1. Audience

• Tailor presentation to audience
• Fellow environmental scientists
• Other scientists
• Other academics
• General public
• High schools
• Elementary school

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2. Location

• Tailor presentation to location
• In a lecture theatre
• In a laboratory
• In a small classroom
• In a large conference hall
• Outdoors
• On the internet

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3. Audio-visual aids

• Tailor presentation to media facilities available
• Overheads (transparencies)
• Computer projection (Powerpoint)
• Slides
• Black/white board
• Internet

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4. Time allocated

• Tailor presentation to time
• Short introduction
• Part of a team-presentation
• Class project
• Conference publication
• Technical report

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5. What is the story?

• Focus on certain aspects of work
• Choose a specific data set
• Dont attempt to present everything
• Only include information relevant to the data
  you are presenting
• Be clear in the data

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6. Disposition

• Dress appropriately
• Dress respectably but not too flamboyant
• Wear comfortable clothing ( shoes)
• Dont look at your watch

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7. Outline presentation

• Include the title, author names and
  affiliations, date and meeting on slide 1
• Introduce yourself and your position
• Outline presentation at start structure

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8. Summarize results

• Write in bullet form
• Use key words
• Present only final data
• Dont present all data on 1 slide

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9. Logical order

• Title, names, affiliations, meeting
• Aims Objectives
• Introduction
• (Materials and methods if necessary)
• Results bullet points, final figures
• Interpret results
• Conclusions
• Acknowledgements

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10. Guidelines for slides

• Keep text to a minimum
• 20 words per slide rule
• Use arial font or other simple ones
• Use large font (gt20)

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10. Guidelines for slides contd.

• Avoid too much noise (color/patterns)
• Stick to 1 form of media
• Space lines well
• Use basic and contrasting colors

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11. Guidelines for talking

• Open on a strong preliminary statement be
  assertive
• Project voice well (to back of room)
• Speak slowly (think quickly)
• Make eye contact with various people

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11. Guidelines for talking contd

• Dont read
• Dont fidget
• Be interactive when appropriate
• Start simple and clear do not overestimate the
  background knowledge of your audience

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12. Guidelines for main data

• Keep details to a minimum
• Present summary statistics not large data sets
• Use simple figures and explain each (axes,
  relationships etc)
• Explain each point as it arises

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12. Guidelines for main data contd

• Do not rush through the data
• Recap on previous points when they arise in
  subsequent figures
• Make sure your audience understands the main
  points of the data

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13. Concluding remarks

• End on a clear take-home message
• Provide a summary slide
• End with, in conclusion.
• Indicate that you are ready to answer questions

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Checklist ?

• Correct structure
• Spell/grammar check
• Tables and Figures have
• comprehensive legend (no. title)
• correct axes, units, n error bars
• Condensed sentences
• Reads clearly (can others understand?)
• Explains the focus of the study well
• Stimulates thought...

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More points for success

• Be simple, clear and assertive
• Take your time
• Be honest with what you do/do not know
• Focus on a few aspects of the study

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Remember to

• Revise content re-check logic/clarity
• Rehearse your delivery
• Re-write (edit) in response to feedback for
  future presentations

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QUESTIONS ?