Some General Points To Consider For Some General Points To Consider For an Effective Seminaran Effective Seminar

• Be Enthusiastic!Be Enthusiastic!– do not speak in a monotone voicedo not speak in a monotone voice– do not read your slidesdo not read your slides– gesture, move about (within reason)gesture, move about (within reason)– look at and engage your audiencelook at and engage your audience– have fun and be yourselfhave fun and be yourself

• Do Not Make your Audience Work.Do Not Make your Audience Work.– speak clearly, loudly and slowlyspeak clearly, loudly and slowly– speak to the audience NOT to your slidesspeak to the audience NOT to your slides– make your slides simple and easy to readmake your slides simple and easy to read

Some General Points To Consider For Some General Points To Consider For an Effective Seminaran Effective Seminar

• Do Not Try To Cover Too Much MaterialDo Not Try To Cover Too Much Material– focus on the important informationfocus on the important information

• Be Professional, But Not ReservedBe Professional, But Not Reserved– treat audience with respecttreat audience with respect

• Be Prepared and OrganizedBe Prepared and Organized– know your subject matterknow your subject matter– come earlycome early

• View Seminar as a Story to be ToldView Seminar as a Story to be Told

• Use Your Nervousness ProductivelyUse Your Nervousness Productively– be preparedbe prepared– stay focusedstay focused

A SEMINAR DESCRIBING THE METHODS, A SEMINAR DESCRIBING THE METHODS, APPROACHES, TECHNIQUES, STYLES AND APPROACHES, TECHNIQUES, STYLES AND

SKILLS FOR GIVING A SUCCESSFUL, SKILLS FOR GIVING A SUCCESSFUL, EFFECTIVE, PRODUCTIVE, INFOMRATIVE EFFECTIVE, PRODUCTIVE, INFOMRATIVE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH SEMINAR THAT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH SEMINAR THAT WILL ENABLE YOU TO SUCCESSFULLY WILL ENABLE YOU TO SUCCESSFULLY

ADVANCED IN YOUR CAREER OF CHOICE, ADVANCED IN YOUR CAREER OF CHOICE, GEARED TOWARD NEW GRADUATE GEARED TOWARD NEW GRADUATE STUDENTS, FIRST-TIME and NOVICE STUDENTS, FIRST-TIME and NOVICE

SEMINAR SPEAKERS SEMINAR SPEAKERS

Robert PowersRobert Powers

Chemistry DepartmentChemistry DepartmentUniversity of NebraskaUniversity of Nebraska

GIVING A SCIENTIFIC PRESENTATIONGIVING A SCIENTIFIC PRESENTATION

David S. HageDavid S. Hage

Chemistry DepartmentChemistry Department

University of NebraskaUniversity of Nebraska

Seminar OutlineSeminar Outline

• The IntroductionThe Introduction – “Tell the audience what you are – “Tell the audience what you are going to tell them”going to tell them”

– Important Background Material Important Background Material Give Overall Perspective –Scientific Relevance (Big Picture)Give Overall Perspective –Scientific Relevance (Big Picture) Give All Audience Members Same FoundationGive All Audience Members Same Foundation

– Bullet List of Important Topics (Table of Contents)Bullet List of Important Topics (Table of Contents) Use Throughout Highlight the ProgressUse Throughout Highlight the Progress

• The Main Body of the PresentationThe Main Body of the Presentation – “Tell them” – “Tell them”

• The ConclusionThe Conclusion – “Tell them what you told them” – “Tell them what you told them”– Summarize the Important/Main Points (Take Home Message)Summarize the Important/Main Points (Take Home Message)

KEY QUESTIONS TO ASK KEY QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN PREPARINGWHEN PREPARING

• What is the purpose of the seminar?What is the purpose of the seminar?

– convey resultsconvey results

– get “Buy” in for projectget “Buy” in for project

– scientific reviewscientific review

• Who is your audience?Who is your audience?

– general vs. expertgeneral vs. expert

• How much time do you have for your presentation?How much time do you have for your presentation?

– good rule of thumb: two minutes of presentation per slidegood rule of thumb: two minutes of presentation per slide

20 to 25 slides for a 45 minute seminar20 to 25 slides for a 45 minute seminar

• What materials should you use?What materials should you use?

– PowerPointPowerPoint presentations are the overwhelming choice at scientific presentations are the overwhelming choice at scientific

conferencesconferences

– have a backup!have a backup!

What is the Purpose of Your What is the Purpose of Your Seminar?Seminar?

• To Present Your Research? To Present Your Research?

• To Review a Topic?To Review a Topic?

• To Begin a Discussion?To Begin a Discussion?

*Use the purpose of the seminar guide *Use the purpose of the seminar guide you in preparing for your talk* you in preparing for your talk*

Who is Your Audience?Who is Your Audience?

• Students?Students?

• Faculty? Faculty?

• Scientists in Your Field?Scientists in Your Field?

• Scientists in a Different Field?Scientists in a Different Field?

• A General Audience?A General Audience?

*Choose materials and a level of discussion *Choose materials and a level of discussion that is appropriate for your audience*that is appropriate for your audience*

How Much Time Do You Have For How Much Time Do You Have For Your Presentation?Your Presentation?

• How much material can be covered?How much material can be covered?– focus on the important issuesfocus on the important issues

• How much time must be used for an How much time must be used for an Intro.? Intro.? – give only background that is need to give only background that is need to

understand content/relevance.understand content/relevance.

• How much time must be left for How much time must be left for questions?questions?– typically 5-10 minutestypically 5-10 minutes

*Always stay within your allotted time* *Always stay within your allotted time*

What Materials Should You Use?What Materials Should You Use?

35 mm Slides35 mm Slides Overhead TransparenciesOverhead Transparencies

PowerPoint SlidesPowerPoint Slides VideotapesVideotapes

Web ResourcesWeb Resources Chalkboard/Wipe Board Chalkboard/Wipe Board

*Choose a medium that fits with your time *Choose a medium that fits with your time slot, audience and subject matter* slot, audience and subject matter*

General Rules for a Successful General Rules for a Successful SeminarSeminar

• Know your subjectKnow your subject• Be organized Be organized • Check the pronunciation & meaning of Check the pronunciation & meaning of

unfamiliar wordsunfamiliar words• Practice, practice, practice… Practice, practice, practice…

*The better prepared, organized, and rehearsed you *The better prepared, organized, and rehearsed you are, the easier it will be to give your presentation* are, the easier it will be to give your presentation*

Preparation of Seminar MaterialsPreparation of Seminar Materials

• Use an Easy-to-See Size Use an Easy-to-See Size (NOT a Small One)(NOT a Small One)

• Use Clear, Contrasting Colors (NOT Use Clear, Contrasting Colors (NOT Loud or or Similar Colors) Colors)

• Avoid Clutter or Too Much Material/SlideAvoid Clutter or Too Much Material/Slide

• Use Graphs, Figures, Animations, etc. Use Graphs, Figures, Animations, etc.

• Check for Errors in Your SlydesCheck for Errors in Your Slydes

• Always Acknowledge Outside SourcesAlways Acknowledge Outside Sources

• Do Not Overdue “Special Effects”Do Not Overdue “Special Effects”

SUMMARYSUMMARY

• This is the last thought that you leave with This is the last thought that you leave with

your audience, so make it good. your audience, so make it good.

• Use short statements to summarize the main Use short statements to summarize the main

points of your talk. points of your talk.

• Keep your points pertinent to your Keep your points pertinent to your

presentation, rather than using this a chance presentation, rather than using this a chance

to add in new points.to add in new points.

*Leave the audience with a positive impression* *Leave the audience with a positive impression*

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

• For a research presentation For a research presentation

– mention those who contributed to the work discussed in mention those who contributed to the work discussed in

your presentation. your presentation.

– list all sources of pertinent funding. list all sources of pertinent funding.

• Reference Reference ALL ALL Articles From Which Data is Articles From Which Data is

PresentedPresented

– usually on the same slide with the datausually on the same slide with the data

• Thank the audience for taking part in your Thank the audience for taking part in your

presentation.presentation.

THE QUESTION & ANSWER PERIODTHE QUESTION & ANSWER PERIOD

• Allow time for questions at the end of the seminar. Allow time for questions at the end of the seminar.

• Be familiar with your material so that you can answer the Be familiar with your material so that you can answer the

questions.questions.

• Treat all members of the audience who ask questions with Treat all members of the audience who ask questions with

respect (even if they don’t do the same).respect (even if they don’t do the same).

• Some questions may involve speculation. If they do, state Some questions may involve speculation. If they do, state

before you answer that this is what your doing. before you answer that this is what your doing.

• Don’t be afraid to say you don’t know the answer or didn’t Don’t be afraid to say you don’t know the answer or didn’t

do the experiment.do the experiment.

• Take criticism gracefully.Take criticism gracefully.