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Public Speaking and Presentation Guide

Public speaking is crucial for almost any research career, yet many of us struggle with it. Here's a systematic approach to improving your presentation skills through practice, preparation, and attention to detail.

Tools and Resources

Practice Tools

  • Speeko: Record presentations and practice enunciation
  • Mirror practice: Run through presentations while watching yourself
  • Timing rehearsals: Practice with actual time constraints

Essential Reading: Jean-Luc Doumont Materials

Excellent resources for scientific presentations:

Full book available for borrowing

Presentation Preparation Checklist

Content Strategy

  • Clear message: Do I have a specific, focused message to convey?
  • Compelling opening: Does my beginning connect with the audience and explain why they should care?
  • Strong conclusion: Does my ending reinforce the message and relevance to the audience?
  • Appropriate depth: Does the level of detail/jargon match my audience's expertise?
  • Proper pacing: Does the number of slides match the expected talk length?

Slide Design Checklist

Visual Layout

  • Alignment: Are all elements (text boxes, images) properly aligned?
  • Spacing: Is whitespace balanced across the slide? (Use "distribute" features in slide software)
  • Consistency: Are heading capitalizations consistent? (Consider New York Times title case)
  • Typography: Do I use only a small number of fonts and font sizes?
  • Legibility: Is every text element readable from the back of the room?

Content Quality

  • Error-free: Are there any typos or grammatical errors?
  • Concise text: Are there full sentences that could be converted to bullet points?
  • Visual balance: Is there more text than graphics? (Aim for at least one illustration per slide)
  • Information density: Is every element on the slide useful? (Maximize data-to-ink ratio)
  • Accessibility: Are colors colorblind-safe?
  • Jargon check: Is specialized terminology explained or removed?

Figures and Data

  • Meaningful labels: Are axis labels and legends clear and informative?
  • Style consistency: Do all figures use the same visual style?
  • Comprehensibility: Can I explain everything shown on each slide?
  • Clear titles: Does each slide title convey a meaningful message?

Technical Formatting Checklist

Basic Elements

  • Slide numbers: Present and properly positioned
  • Font consistency: All fonts are consistent and readable (≥18pt), including in figures
  • Professional alignment: Text is aligned and whitespace is harmoniously distributed
  • Visual engagement: No slides contain only text without supporting visuals
  • Conclusion design: Final slide includes visuals, not just text

Technical Details

  • Acknowledgments: Institutions, team members, and funding agencies are credited with logos/names
  • Code presentation: Light mode used for white backgrounds; dark mode only for dark slide backgrounds
  • Figure quality: All images are high resolution and properly sized

Accessibility Standards

  • Color contrast: Sufficient contrast for visibility under various lighting conditions
  • Font readability: No decorative fonts for body text
  • Consistent navigation: Clear progression between slides

Presentation Day Preparation

  • Practice with the actual slides multiple times
  • Prepare for potential questions
  • Plan transitions between slides
  • Time the full presentation including Q&A