Effective poster and oral presentations

AJ Frew

University of Southampton, UK

Purpose of poster

• To show work and excite comment

• To generate advice for future work

• To obtain feedback for writing up

• To make a mark and solicit collaboration

Horses for courses

• Different layout and content needed for– Fully attended poster– Poster discussion symposium– Unsupported poster

• Consider providing paper copies

• Have the organisers arranged for electronic/CD collection of posters?

Key components

• Abstract

• Title

• Context/ Introduction

• Figures

• Summary

• Discussion points

Abstract

• Advertisement of work

• Basis of selection for display

• Attracts viewers

• May be citable and attract interest after meeting

Title

• Also attracts viewers

• Must be legible from distance

• Clear message

Context/Introduction

• Explains why study was done

• Limited amount of background

• Include hypothesis being tested

• Avoid excessive amounts of text

Methods

• Use photographs where possible

• Essential detail only (unless purpose of poster is to show a new method)

• Use large font

• Use space

Local Allergen Challenge

baseline 10 minutes

Results

• Just key results

• Figures preferable to tables

• Supply full legends

• Logical sequence of experiments/data

• Consider summary with linking lines

• Logical layout, using board space to best effect

Title Authors Institution

AbstractIntro/

Context

Method

Results 1

Summary

Disc’nPoints

Legend

Results 2

Legend

Results 3

Legend

Results 4

Legend

Funding

Title Authors Institution

AbstractIntro/

Context

Method

Results 1

Summary

Disc’nPoints

Legend

Results 2

Legend

Results 3

Legend

Results 4

Legend

Funding

Summary

• Cogent summary

• Fair & accurate conclusions

• Discussion points– to excite comments and interest– to help with further experiments– to help with writing up paper

Role of presenter

• To engage with passers-by

• To answer queries

• To receive feedback

• Aim is to use time for discussion, not to explain methods repeatedly!

What makes a good poster?

• Clarity of purpose

• Appropriate use of figures and legends

• Small amount of legible text

• Enthusiastic presenter

Purpose of oral presentation

• To show work and obtain feedback for writing up

• To make a mark • OPs are less useful than posters for:

– getting comments and feedback– getting advice for future work– getting future collaborations

• Few questions, and usually simple ones

Before starting

• How long have I got?

• How much time is allocated for discussion?

• Who is the audience?

• What are the main results/points?– (one sentence summary)

How many slides?

• Aim for one slide per minute– More is possible but may appear rushed– Two per minute will always be too many

• Audience need time to orient themselves• You will usually remember some extra

things that you want to say• Allow time for changeover and thanks to

organisers etc

Key components of an oral presentation

• Context/ Introduction

• Method

• Results

• Summary

• Discussion points

Context/Introduction

• One slide to explain why study was done

• Include hypothesis being tested

• Avoid excessive amounts of text

• Avoid long explanation of “iconic” cartoon

• Consider highlighting the area of interest

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Methods

• How much do you really need to show?

• Use photographs if appropriate

• Essential detail only

• (unless primary purpose of presentation is to show a new method)

Which works better?

Methods

• Diesel exhaust was generated from an idling Volvo engine (built 1993), diluted with filtered ambient air and pumped into an exposure chamber in the next room.

• On control days the engine was left running but only filtered air was supplied to the chamber

• Particulate and gas concentrations were measured on a continuous basis

OR …...

Diesel engine testbed (National Inst of Working Life, Umeå)

Diesel exposure chamber (National Inst of Working Life, Umeå)

Results

• Identify key results and stick to them

• Avoid data tables

• Avoid figures from papers

• Prepare figures to show key points

Results -common faults

• This is a very busy slide, but if you look over here in the corner you can see…..

• As you can clearly see…..

• I’m sorry. I made this slide for another meeting, but if you ignore this part of the graph……

• Some of you at the back may not be able to read this

Laser Pointers/Highlights

• Use laser pointer sparingly

• Support your wrist

• Don’t “hosepipe”

• Consider using powerpoint features to draw audience to your key points: e.g.– ring highlights– building up graphs

Cytokine mRNA in BAL cells before and 24h after Ag challenge

Pre 24hPost

Allergy & FarmingRiedler et al Lancet 2001;358:1129-33

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leukotrienes

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Tryptase

MigrationActivation

IgE

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Recruitment

Epithelialdamage

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For complex built-upfigures, make whole figure, then make copiesand delete parts

Summary

• Bullet points only

• Discussion points– to acknowledge weaknesses– to compare with previous knowledge– to excite comments and interest– to help with writing up paper

Acknowledgements

• Can take a long time

• Often excessive

• Often uses up a large proportion of discussion time – especially if your presentation or the whole

session is running late

• Consider giving acknowledgements at beginning (as part of title slide)

Oral presentation

• Plan to use your time wisely

• Leave time for discussion

• Prepare clear figures to show results

• Use powerpoint features, – but don’t overdo it

• Speak slowly - “Less is more”

• Give audience some ideas for discussion

• Rehearse with an honest friend