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Scientific Research and how to do it
Introductory lectures for final year students in
Bioengineering…. and Graduates, too
Part 7: The Art Skill of Oral Presentation
AY 09/26
A/Prof Michael Raghunath, MD PhD
Division of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine
Tissue Modulation
Laboratory Manual
Aims of part 5
• 10 steps to prepare a succesful
presentation
• tips for the presentation of posters
Question
1
Real Scientists are cool, they
do not waste time on introductions
keep the screen well-informed
put as many words as possible on a slide
do not summarize their results
never label the axes on their slides
do not have to stick to the alotted time
do not rehearse
Real Scientists are cool, they
You don’t
keep the screen well-informed
really
put as many words as possible on a slide
believe any
do not summarize their results
oftheit,
do
never label
axes or
on their
slides
do not have
to stick??
to the alotted time
you
do not waste time on introductions
do not rehearse
Take home message
The most
most important
important rule
rule for
for aa scientific
scientific
The
presentation is
is to
to finish
finish on
on time
time
presentation
and on
on aa clear
clear and
and resonant
resonant note.
note.
and
2
Attention curve of an audience
• Beginning is crucial – why is your topic important?
• State your message loud and clear at the beginning
• The brains remembers first and last
Divide your talk in several parts
Depending on the
duration
• Give people opportunities to pick up
• Every important item is said several times
Why do people stop listening?
• “Little World syndrome”, (Audiences love
background information)
• No logical structure
• Bad slides
• Long, complicated sentences – info overload
• Speaking too fast- vary your pace
• English incomprehensible
3
Little World Syndrome
The speaker lives in
his/her own little world
of research, and
believes that all the
background
information needed to
appreciate the meaning
of his/her work is
common knowledge.
This is seldom the case!
Retention of Information according to its
Presentation
90%
do it yourself
70%
tell yourself
50%
audio-visual
30%
visual
audio
That is the maximum
you can get when you
present
20%
read 10%
0
20
40
60
80
100
Step 1: Start preparation in Time
Indicate the scope of the presentation by an
informative title.
Message: What do I want the audience to know?
Share with them WHY you are doing what your
are doing
Audience: How do I present in a way that the
audience understands and remembers?
4
Identify your Audience
Acceptance of the speaker by the audience is
key, so identify your audience
You never
never give
givethe
thesame
sametalk
talk twice
twice !!
You
In a nutshell: informative titles
Your project: Fuel gauges of motorbikes fail often. Earlier work
suggests that the best way to assess the petrol amount is to have a
direct look into the tank shining light into it.
So you study the suitability and accuracy of the burning match
method (BMM) for controlling petrol levels in motorbikes.
The methods consists of lighting a match and shining the light into
the petrol tank to make out the petrol level.
You found it is highly dangerous (combustion flame), you
consider yourself lucky you only lost your eyebrows.
What
What will
will be
be the
the title
title of
of your
your presentation
presentation ??
The burning match method to estimate petrol levels in
motorbike tanks
The burning match method to estimate petrol levels in
motorbike tanks – an analysis of its safety
Severe disadvantages of the burning match method to
estimate petrol levels in motorbike tanks
Estimation of petrol levels in motorbike tanks: risks and
dangers of the burning match method
The burning match method is unsuitable for estimating petrol
levels in motorbike tanks: a controlled risk assessment.
5
Step 2: The Message
Try to capture the message in one sentence
Example 1:
The visual inspection of motorbike tanks is the most accurate
method to assess fuel levels, but this should only be done
with light sources that are incapable of igniting fuel vapors.
Example 2:
Addition of dextran sulfate to the culture medium of
fibroblasts leads to an accelerated procollagen conversion
and thus to an enhanced collagen matrix deposition.
Step 3: Results
Select & Order results
Use The Message as a selection criterion
Not chronological but logical
Step 4: Opening & Introduction
Opening:
Catch attention, provoke, think
of The Message
Introduction: Zoom in (General to special)
Take your time (30%)
Use questions
6
Step 5: Conclusion and Ending
Conclusions & Ending
summarize content of presentation in two or
three well-constructed sentences
Announce conclusions: regain attention
Repeat The Message
Acknowledgement – not the co-authors!
The usual recommendation: caution
Tell 'em
'em what
what you're
you're gonna
gonna tell
tell 'em*,
'em*,
Tell
then
tell
'em,
then tell 'em,
then tell
tell 'em
'em what
what you've
you've told
told 'em
'em
then
*this
is a popular recommendation (f. e. see Anholt), however,
for short presentations (3-10 min), I strongly recommend not to
waste time on the “what you’re gonna tell ‘em”, the audience will
see it for themselves – and you have an informative title. I seldom
do this even with larger talks. But the “tell ‘em what you’ ve told’
em” is as must. M. Raghunath
The Conclusion
The most
most important
important rule
rule for
for aa scientific
scientific
The
presentation
is
to
finish
on
time
presentation is to finish on time
and on
on aa clear
clear and
and resonant
resonant note.
note.
and
• firm and decisive should very clearly demarcate the end of the
lecture.
• most important moment. It provides the take-home message,
often the only thing that will be remembered.
• It determines the final impression and impact that you will make
on your audience.
7
Step 6: Excellent Figures
•
•
•
•
•
Self-explaining: clear titles, label axes
Easy to read: large lettering, contrast
Only relevant information
Careful mounting of pictures
help the reader see what (s)he is supposed
to see
Excellent Figures
Step 7: Legible slides
• Large lettering – 24 or 28 point
• Permissive Background
• Use “headlines”
Arial 28 pt
Arial 28 pt
Arial 24 pt
Arial 24 pt
Arial 20 pt
Arial 20 pt
Arial 18 pt
Arial 18 pt
8
No playful or textured background !
Arial 28 pt
Arial 28 pt
Arial 24 pt
Arial 24 pt
Arial 20 pt
Arial 20 pt
Arial 18 pt
Arial 18 pt
Arial 12 pt
Arial 12 pt
The nicest design can distract from the content
And you want to be remembered for your
content not the design of your slides
Clearly not !
• It is unclear for which occasion this
background was made, perhaps as a title
page, but not as a template to run though
the whole presentation
9
Not much space for the title
• Are we sure that the lay-out of
this slide is not too distracting
from the content we want to
convey to the audience ?
imagine a 20 min talk with
those slides !
There is distraction from the title
Arial 28 pt
Arial 28 pt
Arial 28 pt
Arial 24 pt
Arial 24 pt
Arial 24 pt
Arial 20 pt
Arial 20 pt
Arial 20 pt
Arial 18 pt
Arial 18 pt
Arial 18 pt
Arial 12 pt
Arial 12 pt
Arial 12 pt
Legibility not bad
Again the problem of distracting
decoration and reduced space to
place it properly
10
Step 8: Timing, timing, timing
Do not exceed the alloted time !!
As a rule of thumb keep presentation
to one slide per minute (80% of allotted time).
45 min talk: 15 min for intro, 25 min for presentation,
5 minutes to summarize and conclude.
10 min talk: 3.5 min for intro, 5.5 min for the data,
1 min to summarize and conclude
Timing
Take a stopwatch and Rehearse
• Ask your labmates to rehearse you
• Ask your friends/classmates
• Ask your supervisor
Cut results – Do not cut intro or
conclusions!
Don’t loose time at the start
11
Step 9: Communication & Delivery
Short sentences
Simple words
No jargon, abbreviations
Step 9: Communication & Delivery
1. Eye contact: you are talking to them, not just in
front of them. Take the time to articulate every
work of each sentence clearly, while maintaining
eye contact with your audience.
2. Voice Control: as with written text, the end of
the sentence designates the "stress" position. It is
where the audience expects to be provided with
the most important information.
Delivery: Voice Control & Eye Contact !
3. Nervous, hurried speech
articulation.
inaccurate
Take your time and do not speak faster than your
normal conversational speed.
Slowing down is a remedy for 90 percent of most
speakers' problems.
12
Delivery: Posture and Gesture !
• Stand straight up. No over-cool posture or
knotting legs
• Use your hands: gestures can underscore
spoken language.
• Speaking with a hand in your pocket looks
sloppy and arrogant
• Avoid distracting mannerisms like swinging the
pointer aimlessly around.
Delivery: Posture and Gesture !
Delivery: Posture and Gesture !
13
International Competitiveness
1,2,3 you will compete
In Research
Research1,2,3
In
you will compete
internationally,
not locally
locally !!
internationally, not
Therefore, good
good command
command of
of spoken
spoken English
English
Therefore,
is aa MUST
MUST !!
is
(written goes
goes without
without saying…)
saying…)
(written
1and
in business
2And
in many well-paid professions
3
before WWII the internation scientific language was German,
after that it became and is English
If your English is not so good
Non-native English speakers who have severe language
problems giving a scientific presentation should:
• Rehearse and practice the presentation often, preferably
with a friend who is a native English speaker, and almost
learn it by heart.
• Structure your slides in such a way that the images are
able to convey most of the story by themselves, even if
you are hard to understand.
• Work harder on your spoken English !
Step 10: overcoming Nervosity
• write down the first 5-10 min and practice
• If your hand is shaky, steady it with the other
hand
• Seek out friendly faces in the audience.
• When you have a well prepared and
rehearsed presentation, you will be far more
relaxed and can look forward to deliver your
talk.
14
Steadying your hand
Lean your arm against your body
Steadying your hand
The indispensible Ingredient
The most
most important
important advice
advice to
to remember
remember is,
is,
The
communicate with
with your
your audience
audience and
and
communicate
convey enthusiasm
enthusiasm about
about your
your work.
work.
convey
Genuine enthusiasm
enthusiasm accounts
accounts for
for 90
90 percent
percent
Genuine
of aa speaker's
speaker's success.
success.
of
15
Handling Questions
The speaker should attempt to control the crowd, permitting
question as the speaker's convenience.
By making it politely clear that the audience should not interrupt,
the speaker will discourage impulsive ad hoc questions and can
focus on the presentations. In doing so, you will also establish
control and authority.
[tricky if an inexperienced speaker may have omitted an essential
piece of information the audience need to understand the talk. A
clarifying question promptly answered may save such a situation.]
The talk is delivered: Questions
Always answer questions briefly and to the point.
It is in many cases advantageous to repeat the question
before answering it. In addition, repeating the question
gives you the chance to rephrase the question*.
It is always a good idea to be polite and gracious.
* Or to answer a slightly different question (for the advanced..)
Motivation for Questions
Some people are genuinely interested and want to know
more. Some people did not understand details but want
to. Some want to test your knowledge, some want to
demonstrate their own knowledge. Some have less nice
intentions, but so be it.
It is in many cases advantageous to repeat the question
before answering it. In addition, repeating the question
gives you the chance to rephrase the question*.
It is always a good idea to be polite and gracious.
* Or to answer a slightly different question (for the advanced..)
16
Different degrees of aggressive questioning
• … have you done the
following experiment ?
Is interested and wants
info
• … why have you not done the
following experiment ?
This might be a criticism,
answer carefully and
explain
• …. Let me get this straight,
you want to tell us that…..?
This is pompous and fairly
aggresssive, remain polite
and stay your ground
• .. I might have missed that, but
did you ….. ..
Shrewd approach, can be
neutral, listen carefully,
fill the gaps
You do not know the answer
• we have not looked into this, but this is a very good
suggestion
• we are in the process of doing this and can hopefully
report our results next time…
• I have no information on this, would you have a
suggestion for me ?
• I am not aware of any data on this…
• I am not aware of any data on this…does somebody in
the audience (you pick out the authority in the field…)
You do not want to answer right now
• we are in the process of doing this and can
hopefully report our results next time…
• I do have preliminary data on this but I feel it
is too early to make any claims
17
Questions are extremely helpful
•
•
•
•
they point to issues you might have overlooked
highlight points you have not made clear enough
stimulate thinking and analysis
in any case will help you to improve your
presentation/poster
• they prove you have stimulated the audience
• give you new ideas !
If you feel the question you got resonated with you, you might
want to approach the questioning member of the audience in
the break, it might lead to a fascinating exchange and
collaboration !
Well answered is well taken
• You can score a lot of points by answering questions
well, you show that you know more than you told
• you show your competence
• you show that you can handle difficult or aggressive
questions
• Some of the Q&A even helps you to make a few more
points that you have been originally alloted to talk
about
Try to anticipate possible questions and rehearse them.
Prepare discussion slides that you might be able to flash
if a question directly points to them
Know your stuff
The decision not to speak is sometimes more beneficial
to a person's reputation than a lecture devoid of data.
Accurate, complete, well-phrased descriptions of
scientific information portray speaker as a
knowledgeable, reliable source of information.
In contrast, glib, inaccurate statements that appear open
to multiple interpretations gradually elicit skepticism and
distrust.
Critical examination of the information is indispensable.
18
Dress for Success
Dressing up for a scientific
presentation conveys two
important messages:
respect for your audience and
willingness to conform.
Really good presenters
always rehearse
Invest substantial
substantial time on introductions
Invest
audience well-informed
keep the audience
put as few
few words as possible on a slide
always
always summarize their results
always label the axes on their slides
always
do
not have to stick to the alotted time
Scientific Research and how to do it
Introductory lectures for final year students in Bioengineering…. and
Graduates, too
BN 4101
Part 5 b The Skill of presenting Posters
A/Prof Michael Raghunath, MD PhD
Division of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine
Tissue Modulation
Laboratory Manual
19
Basic poster rules
The poster should be aesthetic and clean.
Simplicity above all.
Tell a story. Include only material relevant to the story
line.
Informative title. Describe approach in an engaging,
condensed style without excessive detail.
Organize presentation of data in a logical, coherent
sequence.
Common Poster Mistakes
1. Too much text
2. Unclear structure (conclusions missing)
3. Poor figures
4. Information overload
5. No presenter
INFORMATIVE TITLE: how to build a good poster
Upper left hand corner:
concise introduction,
why presented work is
important within the
scientific field
Attention getter
Picture, scheme,
highlight to attract
people to your
poster
Layout
Build around
Attention Getter
Visual aids- Use
photos, pictures (don’t
overload)
Lower right hand corner:
small number of well-phrased
conclusions and a major,
concise summary statement
(= message).
20
Do not be afraid of empty space !
What makes this pictures
so powerful ?
The empty space and the
spacing: do not cram
your posters
Upper left
hand corner:
Introduction
Attention
getter
Lower right
hand
corner:
conclusion
Observe the
flow of the
story
21
A poster viewer
scans you poster
possibly like this
…or possibly
more like this
This poster could be improved
In hindsight, the background section could be more specific and should explain the WHY and
WHAT FOR we did this research. The justifying sentence starting with “therefore” does not
really explain the WHY. As you see, there is always room for improvement. Therefore, also
posters should be rehearsed and refined before they go to print. In this case, there was no time
for this – and it shows.
22
Poster Critique, ctd
Our conclusion could have been more to the point and also could
have given an outlook to further studies and applications.
Also, there
is still too
much text –
needs to be
weeded out
The role of a poster
It is the young scientist's debut performance
And an excellent opportunity for the exchange of ideas
and dialogue, rather than merely a forum for data
presentation. You have more time to explain and discuss
with visitors of your poster.
Remember that
that itit isis not
not the
thenumber
number of
of people
peoplewho
whocome
come
Remember
to view
view your
your poster,
poster, but
but the
thequality
qualityof
of interactions
interactions with
with
to
themthat
that determines
determines its
its success.
success.
them
23
an award-winning
poster
One of three poster
prizes at the TERMIS
meeting 13-16 June
2007 in Toronto
(of 263 poster
presentations)
A nice and
clearly/cleanly
structured
poster
Conclusion should
be placed in the
lower right hand
corner, observe
the nice flow of
the story
References
J. W. (Hans) Niemantsverdriet, How to give successful oral and
poster presentations
http://www.catalysis.nl/links/presentations/index.php
Dazzle 'em with Style: The Art of Oral Scientific Presentation
Robert R H Anholt, © 1994 by W H Freeman and Company
Highly recommended: Michael Alley, the craft of
scientific presentations
Acknowledgements
Dr Mark Saeys, Dr Tong Yen Wah, Dept of ChemE and Division of
BioE were kind enough to let me have copies of their presentation to 4th
students in Chem Eng.
24
how to mess up your talk
- Spend a lot of time on things that are not related to your
subject.
- Waste no time on introducing your subject.
- Fill your slides with as many details as possible.
- Present your data as tables instead of figures.
- When you show graphs, never mention the compound or
experiment they are about.
- Plan as many slides as possible for your talk.
- Use vertical instead of horizontal slides.
- Make sure you leave some mistakes in your slides.
- Present all the details of your work completely.
- If you use theory that is not well known, be sure not to explain
it.
if you want to compete for the most horrible talk
- Read your presentation from paper, preferably literally from
a written report.
- Do not introduce your talk with a “warm-up”.
- Do not give structure to your story.
- Assume the audience is maximally motivated for your talk.
- Do not look at the audience, and ignore signals from them.
- Do not use gestures and facial expressions: it is not theater!
- Put as many words on a slide as possible.
- Do not use figures and graphs, but long sentences and tables.
- Try to put all your knowledge into the talk; if necessary, talk
faster.
- Do not care about the time: they will stop you when the talk is too
long.
if you want to compete for the most horrible talk
- Read your presentation from paper, preferably literally from
a written report.
- Do not introduce your talk with a “warm-up”.
- Do not give structure to your story.
- Assume the audience is maximally motivated for your talk.
- Do not look at the audience, and ignore signals from them.
- Do not use gestures and facial expressions: it is not theater!
- Put as many words on a slide as possible.
- Do not use figures and graphs, but long sentences and tables.
- Try to put all your knowledge into the talk; if necessary, talk
faster.
- Do not care about the time: they will stop you when the talk is too
long.
25
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