One-stop shop for research presentations

Category: Education

This academic writing tip is for those who are thinking about giving a research presentation. Being articulate and interesting for a live audience is a whole different ball game. And, if you don’t bring you’re “A” game, then you might be on the receiving end of people throwing tomatoes or eggs or even worse, leaving. So, let’s run through a few important points that will help you improve your presentation. First, let’s get the aim of a research presentation straight. You are not there to impress the audience by your looks, qualifications, and work experience. You are no there to share each and every detail of your study. You are there to give your audience a clear idea of your work, make them want to read your paper, and ideally get some feedback on your paper. The second bit of this article focuses on knowing your audience and reacting to them rather than force-feeding them with a lengthy speech that they are too tired to listen to. Most of the audience will be researchers who are experts or non-experts in your field and students, whereas a few might be non-experts. We have to assume most of them are going to be too tired or bored to pay attention to your presentation. So, what you do, rather than give them what they expect from you, is go a route that awakens their interest. You can begin your presentation with the major findings of your study and then string along the process of how you got there. You can grab their attention by giving simple and interesting examples during your presentation to reel back their drifting attention. You can provide a lot of information by using catchy images/pictures rather than droning on about it. Your preparation is as important as preparing your Powerpoint presentation. You must read up on the relevant research and studies whose results directly relate to what you did. When presenting technical details, talk (in depth) about the meaty aspects of your study rather than superficially dipping into every detail. Preparing the presentation: Less is good: Do not fill up your slides with excessive words, equations, or information. Fill your presentation up with narration rather than words. Simple is beautiful: Do not use distracting backgrounds, colors, and fonts. Nothing should distract your audience from your research; therefore, keep your slides simple and clear. The font size should be legible and clear. And, be consistent with your backgrounds, colors, and fonts. One step at a time: Do not include more than one major point on one slide. Just like every story teller, the reigns of the pace of the presentation should be in your hands and your hands only. This will not only prevent your audience from reading ahead and ignoring you but also keep your presentation focused. Graphs speak volumes: Use sufficient graphs instead of excessive charts. Graphs are easier to comprehend. Trends can be visualized easier on a graph, and they also help to retain raw data. But, ensure that you title your graphs and follow the instructions on backgrounds, colors, and fonts mentioned previously. Finish on time: No one enjoys a never ending sermon. So, ensure that you can finish in the limited time allotted to you. You may need to practice over and over again, edit the details in your narration, and still be enthusiastic about presenting your information to the actual target audience. The presentation should mainly contain: What the main problem is? What you aim to achieve with this study? What is the relevant and current status of the problem area?0 What is your idea or contribution? Why is your approach better? What do you wish to do next? Brief summary. Now, most people who spend a lot of time behind the door of a library or a laboratory are usually not known for their articulation, narration, or oration. So, you are bound to be slightly nervous when taking center stage, but avoid reading out the slides meekly. Make eye contact with your audience. Encourage an interactive session rather than gathering the entire spotlight on yourself. Bring notes and answers to possible questions to the presentation. Remember it is not a crime to utter the words “I don’t know,” in any part of this world. And, most importantly, practice. Since practice is the only way to perfection, keep practicing until the actual presentation day so it seems more organic than forced.