Presentation Skills John A Kirby Graduate School Faculty of Medical Sciences University of Newcastle Types of Presentation • • • Scientific conference – Invited talk (30 minutes) – Talk selected from abstracts (10 minutes) – Presentation of poster (2-3 minutes) Teaching – Any level Fund raising – Lay audience Types of presentation • Scientific conference – Invited talk (20 – 45 minutes) – Talk selected from abstracts (10 minutes) – Presentation of poster (2-3 minutes) • Teaching – At any level, for any time • Fund raising – Lay audience Purpose of a 10 minute research presentation • To broadcast your results and conclusions • To impress your peers – You have a ‘captive’ audience of experts • To make your name – Increase likelihood of employment or further funding What can go wrong? • You only get one shot – You must rehearse and KEEP TO TIME! • You are tempted to show off how clever you are • You try to discuss every experiment you have ever done • You bore your audience and they stop liking you • When you stop you are immediately forgotten ‘Timekeeper’ slides This lecture lasts for 45 minutes If all slides take the same time (check during rehearsal) you need to be at slide 15(ish) after 22 minutes If you reach this too soon you can slow down Mechanics • Check out the microphone – Fixed or radio? • How does the pointer work • Make sure you understand PowerPoint – How will your slides advance (or go back)? – There may be no keyboard on the lectern • Most big conferences only give you a mouse to control slide advance – MAKE SURE you have enabled the advance by mouse click facility! • Methods – Keep these very simple – Details will be published in due course! • Results – Key findings only – Don’t use too many sets of data – Make results visually clear – Avoid multi-coloured graphs – People at the back of the hall must be able to see your data – Avoid too many error bars and ‘p’ values • If you say something increases/decreases the audience must believe you! What’s wrong? • Discussion – Only use a few key bullet points only • Conclusion – Make very clear – Must satisfy your aims – Remember, this is when many in the audience wake up and take notice! • Acknowledgements – Make your group seem big, important and well funded Are there any questions? • Avoid the ‘phew, its all over’ feeling before answering your questions! • Listen carefully – if you can’t hear or understand ask the chairperson for help • If you are not sure of the answer steer the discussion to safe ground • Don’t be afraid of stating that you not know! Use colour carefully • Up to 8% of men are to some degree red-green colourblind • Aim to maximise contrast • Don’t over use colours and keep them consistent • Avoid yellow on white or mauve on blue (PowerPoint often favours these combinations) Colours Avoid yellow on white! or purple on blue Trouble with fonts • In general use sans-serif fonts – Serifs are the little ‘tails’ added to characters – good in written text but less good in presentations • Probably best to not mix or use too many fonts • Less formal fonts can be used in some circumstances – judge your audience If in doubt, keep it simple AUDIO VISUAL INSTRUCTIONS American Transplant Congress SPEAKERS May 21-25, 2008 Seattle, Washington * PLEASE READ * SPEAKER READY ROOM LOCATION: Washington State Convention and Trade Center Room 4C-2, Level Four SPEAKER CHECK – IN: All speakers are required to check into the Speaker Ready Room 24 hours before the start of the session Checking in at the Speaker Ready is the single most important action you will take to ensure that your presentation is a success Personnel in the Speaker Ready Room will be available to assist in any last minute changes and to troubleshoot any problems the presenter may have There will be terminals set up for your review You should make sure all fonts appear as expected and all sound/video clips are working properly at this time You will be able to edit your presentation, as well Once you are through reviewing your presentation and certify it is ready, we will electronically send your presentation to the designated presentation room All editing must be completed hours prior to the start of the session The pathophysiology of chronic allograft injury John A Kirby Institute of Cellular Medicine Cardiopulmonary Transplant Unit Freeman Hospital Newcastle Upon Tyne Relevant Financial Relationship Disclosure Statement The pathophysiology of chronic allograft injury John A Kirby I will not discuss off label use and/or investigational use of any drugs or devices I have no financial relationships of relevance to my role in this session The chairperson is your friend! Session Title: Concurrent Session 89: Influence of Leukocyte Migration and Function Session Date: Thursday, 7/27/2008 Session Time: 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM Session Location:112 The role of the moderator is essential for the success of the session and the meeting The following are suggestions that will help you as a moderator for the American Transplant Congress meeting: Beginning on time is essential You should be in the room ten (10) minutes before the session begins if possible We will be also asking the presenters to be there early Remind the speakers again that you will be keeping them strictly on time The times for the concurrent sessions are minutes for presentation followed by minutes for discussion Make sure the speakers are all sitting in the front row close to the podium Stimulate discussion, but not allow the “rambling grandstander” Limit the number of questions to two per person on the first go around Encourage multiple questioners Make sure you know how the timing device works so you stay on time There will be a projectionist in the room who will give you instruction on using this equipment End on time – also essential 12 parallel sessions each session has 12x10 minute talks Good luck! [...]... expected and all sound/video clips are working properly at this time You will be able to edit your presentation, as well Once you are through reviewing your presentation and certify it is ready, we will electronically send your presentation to the designated presentation room All editing must be completed 2 hours prior to the start of the session The pathophysiology of chronic allograft injury John A Kirby... to ensure that your presentation is a success Personnel in the Speaker Ready Room will be available to assist in any last minute changes and to troubleshoot any problems the presenter may have There will be terminals set up for your review You should make sure all fonts appear as expected and all sound/video clips are working properly at this time You will be able to edit your presentation, as well... Listen to what they say Dos and Don’ts • Don’t speak too rapidly/too quietly • Don’t use passive body language • Don’t hide behind the lectern • Don’t turn your back to the audience • Don’t read your presentation • Don’t abuse your audience – ‘I’m sorry but this slide is very busy… ’ – ‘those of you at the back might not be able to see this faint band on the gel… ’ Hard truths • Conferences are exhausting!... combinations) Colours Avoid yellow on white! or purple on blue Trouble with fonts • In general use sans-serif fonts – Serifs are the little ‘tails’ added to characters – good in written text but less good in presentations • Probably best to not mix or use too many fonts • Less formal fonts can be used in some circumstances – judge your audience If in doubt, keep it simple AUDIO VISUAL INSTRUCTIONS American... begins if possible We will be also asking the presenters to be there early Remind the speakers again that you will be keeping them strictly on time The times for the concurrent sessions are 7 minutes for presentation followed by 3 minutes for discussion 2 Make sure the speakers are all sitting in the front row close to the podium 3 Stimulate discussion, but do not allow the “rambling grandstander” Limit