The Research Process

Research AcademyThe Research PresentationA training for preparing andpresenting technical presentations

Training AgendaOverview and key pointsSlide layoutUse of graphicsPresentation contentPreparing and presentingResourcesOverview and Key PointsPurpose of a research talkIs not toImpress the audienceTell them all you know about a subjectPresent every little detail of your workIs toGive the audience a sense of what your idea/work isMake them want to read your paperGet feedback on your work

Know Your Audience

Know your audienceWho would be there?Scientists expert in your fieldScientists not expert in your fieldStudentsNon expertsWho knows?Most likely a mix so have something for allKnow your audienceKeep in mindThey might be tiredThey can readThey are thinking Why should I listen?Non-experts will tune off within 2 minutesExperts after 5 minutes What can you do?What can you do?Early motivation - at the beginning of your talk motivate your research with easy to understand examplesSpoil the punch line - State your results early and in simple termsVisuals Illustrate your idea with images and diagrams

Leave them with these thoughtsI understood what the problem was and why it was importantI have an idea of what her solution was and how it was different/better than othersShe knows the literature (i.e. quoted my work) and we might collaborate on this aspect of her researchActivityKnow your audienceDefine what is research to:Your friendsYour boss (someone in industry)Your parentsSmall childrenGeneral audienceSlide LayoutKeep in mindLess is more. Fill in with narration not wordsUse animation sparinglyUse color to emphasize some points but limit to 2 or 3Be consistent! In the choice and use of color font size/type etcUse slide real estate appropriatelySlide layout - BadThis page contains too many words for a presentation slide. It is not written in point form, making it difficult both for your audience to read and for you to present each point. Although there are exactly the same number of points on this slide as the previous slide, it looks much more complicated. In short, your audience will spend too much time trying to read this paragraph instead of listening to you.Slide layout GoodShow one point at a time:Will help audience concentrate on what you are sayingWill prevent audience from reading aheadWill help you keep your presentation focusedFonts - GoodUse a decent font size (at least 18pt)Use different size fonts for main points and secondary pointsthis font is 24-point, the main point font is 32-point, and the title font is 44-pointUse a standard font like Times New Roman or Arial

Fonts - BadIf you use a small font, your audience wont be able to read what you have written

CAPITALIZE ONLY WHEN NECESSARY. IT IS DIFFICULT TO READ

Dont use a complicated font

Color - GoodUse font color that contrasts sharply with the background Blue font on white backgroundUse color to reinforce the logic of your structureEx: light blue title and dark blue textUse color to emphasize a pointBut only use this occasionallyColor - BadUsing a font color that does not contrast with the background color is hard to read Using color for decoration is distracting and annoying.Using a different color for each point is unnecessarySame for secondary pointsTrying to be creative can also be badBackground - GoodUse backgrounds such as this one that are attractive but simpleUse backgrounds which are lightUse the same background consistently throughout your presentationStandard PPT templates are generally goodBackground BadAvoid backgrounds that are distracting or difficult to read fromAlways be consistent with the background that you use

GraphicsKeep in mind.Graphics should be brief.They need to:support the spoken word, help clarify examples, emphasize key points, show relationships, illustrate concepts, and provide the visual information your audience needs to understand your research.Reading from your slides is not an effective form of presenting.Graphs - GoodUse graphs rather than just charts and wordsData in graphs is easier to comprehend & retain than is raw dataTrends are easier to visualize in graph form

Always title your graphsUse titles that clearly explain what the graph is illustrating

Graphs - Bad

Graphs - Good

Graphs - Bad

Graphs - BadMinor gridlines are unnecessaryFont is too smallColors are illogicalTitle is missingShading is distracting

Diagrams - GoodIllustrates pointSimpleColors have a purposeClarifies information

Diagrams - Bad

Presentation ContentHow to make your pointYou have three chances to make your point:During title slide: make a brief statementResults: these should demonstrate your pointConclusion: restate your point clearly and explicitly

Technical details: in or out?A fine linePresent specific aspect that show the meat of your workLeave the rest out. If you were convincing they will read your paperDont fill up your slides with lots of equationsPrepare back-up slides to answer questions. Leave them at the end of the presentationUse examplesExamples are your weapon toMotivate your workIllustrate the basic intuitionShow your solution in action (baby problem)Highlight extreme cases or shortcomingsIf you are running out of time cut the general case not the exampleRequired sectionsThe research academy requires these three parts:Answer the question: what is research?Research experience described next Research opportunities from the handouts!Group ActivityPresentation outline developmentUsing your knowledge about the research process, come up with a basic outline or flow chart for a general research presentation

The skeletonWhat is the problemMotivation and goalsRelevant state of the artWhat is your key idea/contributionWhy is your approach good/betterConclusion: what I just said and what I want to do nextUse numbers instead of bullets36Problem statement/motivationGive a simple explanation of your results when introducing the research during your title slide!Give a brief presentation outline/agendaState the problem in basic termsExplain why your research is important or useful what motivates you to do what you do?What are your goals and expected outcomes?Relevant state of the artThis is where the lit survey comes inBe familiar with all related workDont list each paper you readMainly talk about results that are immediately related to what you didReferences at the end of the talk or better in the paper itselfAcknowledge co-authors (title slide)What is your key idea?Methods, materials, experimental setupGoverning equations/theoryThis may need to be addressed earlierBoil everything down to the basic ideas:just enough for everyone to understand what you are talking aboutBegin discussing your resultsWhy is your approach better?Interpret your results!Your results should provide support for your hypothesisDont leave it up to your audience to figure out how your results do thisWhat makes your approach original?How does it improve previous research?

Conclusion3rd and final chance to drive your point homeRestate your most important resultState any significance of this resultWhat does this result imply for current and future research in this subject?End with a discussion of possible future workPreparing and presentingPreparing the presentationPrepare the slides in advanceShow them to friendsWhen you think you are done read them againCheck all animations with the sound onPutting together slides and presenting them are two different thingsPreparing the presentationPractice, practice, practiceGive a practice talk to a general audienceGive a practice talk to an audience of expertTime your presentation (allow for speed up effect caused by nervousness)Confidence comes with practiceAlways assume technology will fail you. Have backups.Go into room before presentaton to check technology44Delivering the talkBe enthusiastic! If you arent why should the audience be?Make eye contact with the audienceIdentify a few nodders and speak to themWatch for questions. Be prepare to digress or brush off when irrelevantDelivering the talkStand up straightProject your voice and enunciatePoint at the screen not the computerDo not read directly from the PPT or your notesHave the spill for the first couple of slides memorized in case you go blankBe comfortable with what you knowFinish in timeHandling questionsDifferent types handle accordinglyNeed clarificationSuggest something helpfulWant to engage in research dialogShow that he/she is better than youAnticipate questions (additional slides)Dont let them highjack the talk (postpone)Group ActivityAnswering questionsEach group comes up with a question based on what you learned todayTime managementGeneral rule: one slide per minute40 minutes = 40 slides4 presenters = 10 minutes each1 minute = 4-5 sentencesWrite notes!Each sentence should be summarized by a bullet point in your notesTime each individual slide

ExpectationsWe want to know:Do you understand the material?What new things did you learn?Do you understand the significance of your project?Did you answer the question what is research?Do you have a better understanding of how to make a research presentation?How can I get better?Practice every chance you canObserve othersSteal good presentation ideasNotice all the things that turned you offSeek comments from friends and mentors and eachotherQuestions?Good20.430.627.438.69034.620.431.6

Blue BallsRed BallsItems Sold in First Quarter of 2002

Bad20.430.627.438.69034.620.431.6

Blue BallsRed Balls

Sheet1JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilBlue Balls20.427.49020.4Red Balls30.638.634.631.6

Sheet2

Sheet3

Good20.430.627.438.69034.620.431.6

Blue BallsRed BallsItems Sold in First Quarter of 2002

Sheet1JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilBlue Balls20.427.49020.4Red Balls30.638.634.631.6

Sheet2

Sheet3

Good20.430.627.438.69034.620.431.6

Blue BallsRed BallsItems Sold in First Quarter of 2002

Bad20.430.627.438.69034.620.431.6

Blue BallsRed Balls

Sheet1JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilBlue Balls20.427.49020.4Red Balls30.638.634.631.6

Sheet2

Sheet3