Vitals & Key Ingredients 3 Categories: I. Vital Elements II. Mechanics of the Presentation III. Speaker Performance Giving a Great Science Talk Giving a Great Science Talk

If your audience walks away understanding your main points, gains new appreciation for (or is convinced of) them, and remembers them, then you’ve done your job. I. Your purpose is to communicate, convince, and teach Now here’s the main point! I. Motivate, Introduce, & Outline Talk II. Strategy, Methods, Data III. Results, Interpetations IV. Your Conclusions I. Motivate, Introduce, & Outline Talk II. Strategy, Methods, Data III. Results, Interpetations IV. Your Conclusions II. The scientific format helps bring your audience on a journey of scientific deduction and discovery. I. Vital Elements  Tell’em what your gonna tell them  Tell them  Tell’em what you told them.  Tell’em what your gonna tell them  Tell them  Tell’em what you told them.

Vitals & Key Ingredients 3 Categories: I. Vital Elements II. Mechanics of the Presentation III. Speaker Performance Giving a Great Science Talk Giving a Great Science Talk

Giving a Great Science Talk: II. Presentation Mechanics & III. Speaker Performance Garrett Apuzen-Ito Dept. of Geology & Geophysics, SOEST, University of Hawaii Garrett Apuzen-Ito Dept. of Geology & Geophysics, SOEST, University of Hawaii You will be most effective at: Communicating, convincing, teaching & Communicating, convincing, teaching & Your scientific format conveys a logical story of deduction & discovery Your scientific format conveys a logical story of deduction & discoveryIf... You will be most effective at: Communicating, convincing, teaching & Communicating, convincing, teaching & Your scientific format conveys a logical story of deduction & discovery Your scientific format conveys a logical story of deduction & discoveryIf... II. Your presentation is understandable, illustrative, effective III. YOU are understandable, confident, relate to your audience

First Lets Cover II. Presentation Mechanics First Lets Cover II. Presentation Mechanics

First Lets Cover II. Presentation Mechanics First Lets Cover II. Presentation Mechanics

Introduction & Motivation: (~2 minutes) -conveys why the study is important -clearly defines the problem/question/hypothesis -outlines what’s to come (method & even conclusions) Method: how to address the problem (1-2 minutes) -data, experimental design, theory, analyses Results/Findings of Method (2-4 minutes) -quantitative/objective products of method Interpretations of Findings (2-4 minutes) -what can be inferred from results? -what should not be inferred (i.e., limitations)? Conclusions: answers to the problem (1 minute) -reiterate problem and 1-3 memorable conclusions Introduction & Motivation: (~2 minutes) -conveys why the study is important -clearly defines the problem/question/hypothesis -outlines what’s to come (method & even conclusions) Method: how to address the problem (1-2 minutes) -data, experimental design, theory, analyses Results/Findings of Method (2-4 minutes) -quantitative/objective products of method Interpretations of Findings (2-4 minutes) -what can be inferred from results? -what should not be inferred (i.e., limitations)? Conclusions: answers to the problem (1 minute) -reiterate problem and 1-3 memorable conclusions II. Presentation Mechanics: TIMING 12-minute research (i.e., for final projects) talk 12-minute research (i.e., for final projects) talk (about 1 minute per slide) II. Presentation Mechanics: TIMING 12-minute research (i.e., for final projects) talk 12-minute research (i.e., for final projects) talk (about 1 minute per slide) A A B B

Introduction & Motivation: (~2 minutes) -conveys why the topic is important/interesting -clearly defines the problem/question/hypothesis -outlines what’s to come (method & even conclusions) Strategy and Concepts (1-4 minutes) Build Evidence, Key Ideas, & (4-6 minutes) Main Points Conclusions: (1 minute) -reiterate problem and 1-3 memorable conclusions Introduction & Motivation: (~2 minutes) -conveys why the topic is important/interesting -clearly defines the problem/question/hypothesis -outlines what’s to come (method & even conclusions) Strategy and Concepts (1-4 minutes) Build Evidence, Key Ideas, & (4-6 minutes) Main Points Conclusions: (1 minute) -reiterate problem and 1-3 memorable conclusions II. Presentation Mechanics: TIMING 12-minute general science (e.g., upcoming practice) talks (about 1 minute per slide) II. Presentation Mechanics: TIMING 12-minute general science (e.g., upcoming practice) talks (about 1 minute per slide) A A B B

First Lets Cover II. Presentation Mechanics First Lets Cover II. Presentation Mechanics

Image Content: How much content is appropriate for ~1 minute per slide, AND considering that this is the 1 st and only time your audience will see the slide?

Enough to get 1-3 points across and NO more.

BUT if you want to get to a point of showing lots of concepts together

Then start SIMPLE…..

Allow your audience to absorb as you build…..

More and more information gradually….

Until you reach the full content.

Oh, and about showing PLOTS… Remember you are asking your audience to absorb the plot in ~1 minute so do them a favor. Take the time to describe each axis of the plot and point out the key trends that they are supposed to catch Oh, and about showing PLOTS… Remember you are asking your audience to absorb the plot in ~1 minute so do them a favor. Take the time to describe each axis of the plot and point out the key trends that they are supposed to catch

Building text gradually is appropriate When you have 1-3 points you want to build But don’t go overboard Because you audience can see the blank space below & will start wondering whats coming next rather than focusing on the points you are trying to make And this can be a bit distracting, annoying,annoying, Let alone, time consuming!

Each “slide” should contain enough content to make 1-3 points and NO more.

Image Layout: Balance the size of text and images

3He/4He 87Sr/86Sr Square-Root Seafloor Age (m.y. 1/2 ) Is this better?

3He/4He 87Sr/86Sr Square-Root Seafloor Age (m.y. 1/2 ) Is this better?

How much text is appropriate for each slide?

About as much as they can read in ~1 minute. AND it helps to support text with images.

What about Colors? Black and White can be adequate

Use colors to distinguish, emphasize, clarify, & add a bit of life

IF they are used APPROPRIATELY! Keep ‘em tasteful and professional

What about Powerpoint Animations and Tricks? Use them to add a “bit” of variety, illustrate a point, &/or for emphasis. For example….. But its better to error on the conservative so as not to cause a DISTRACTION

Image Design

What about YOU?

Speaker Performance Voice PROJECT Vary pitch, vary speed Punctuate with pauses (avoid monotone) Voice PROJECT Vary pitch, vary speed Punctuate with pauses (avoid monotone) Movement Use deliberate hand gestures Moving around to reach out to audience Minimize nervous tics Movement Use deliberate hand gestures Moving around to reach out to audience Minimize nervous tics Attitude Be natural Be enthusiastic Smile Attitude Be natural Be enthusiastic Smile Occasional Humor Helps

Pointing specifies & focuses attention Pointing specifies & focuses attention Systematic Fault Patterns on Earth

Speak accurately. 12 minutes is not time for meaningless words/non-words… Speak accurately. 12 minutes is not time for meaningless words/non-words… “Like” “Ya-know” “Uhhh” “Uhmm”

Repeat or summarize the question; if needed, paraphrase it to your advantage Answer simple factual questions right away Never bluff. If a question comes up that you cannot answer, say so… strategically. “I’ll have to give that some more thought….” “Good question, I hadn’t thought of it in that way before. Lets have a beer and discuss this further.” (they might even buy you one) Repeat or summarize the question; if needed, paraphrase it to your advantage Answer simple factual questions right away Never bluff. If a question comes up that you cannot answer, say so… strategically. “I’ll have to give that some more thought….” “Good question, I hadn’t thought of it in that way before. Lets have a beer and discuss this further.” (they might even buy you one) Answering Questions

Preparation Practice/Rehearse until the timing is right until you know exactly what you are going to say with each slide but do not over-rehearse so you loose your flare until the timing is right until you know exactly what you are going to say with each slide but do not over-rehearse so you loose your flare

Preparation Know your audience Know your venue and equipment Check: projectors pointer microphones platform Know your venue and equipment Check: projectors pointer microphones platform By the way, its ok if your colors do not appear exactly as you do on your laptop. If you must mention so, do it only once & move on! By the way, its ok if your colors do not appear exactly as you do on your laptop. If you must mention so, do it only once & move on!

Vitals & Key Ingredients 3 Categories: I. Vital Elements II. Mechanics of the Presentation III. Speaker Performance Giving a Great Science Talk Giving a Great Science Talk