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Oral Presentation Guidelines
Format and Time:
A computer and video projector for PowerPoint presentations will be provided. Please bring your presentation on a flash drive.
The computer to be used for the presentatios is XP, therefore all VISTA users must save their files as .ppt and NOT as .pptx to
avoid format problems.
The time limit is 12 minutes for the presentation plus 3 minutes for audience questions.
The session chairs will indicate to you when you have reached the 10-minute mark. To maintain our schedule they will
cut you off after 12 minutes no matter whether your presentation is finished or not.
Please practice and time yourself before giving your presentation.
Audience:
Presentations should be prepared to reach an interdisciplinary scientific audience. You may assume the audience has basic scientific knowledge, but
do not assume the audience is intimately familiar with your specific field or jargon commonly used in your field. You should, therefore, either
avoid that jargon or define and explain acronyms, terms, and concepts.
Judging:
Please refer to the Awards menu on this website to familiarize yourself with the Judging Criteria for this category.
Hints:
Although there are many factors which go into an excellent presentation, we would like to emphasize a few points:
1) Use font size that will be large enough to be seen clearly from the back of a room when projected (at least 18 point font, I use 28 or 32
point
for most everything on presentations). Do not try to put too much on a single slide or overhead.
2) Present enough background and introductory material for an audience unfamiliar with your particular field of study to understand the
larger
significance of your work.
3) Speak slowly and clearly. Don't worry about presenting ALL your results.
4) Avoid tables - put your info into a graph, diagram, or sentence. Also, simplify graphs - the audience needs to be able to get the general
idea
quickly. When showing a graph, the very FIRST thing you should do is TELL the audience what the axes are. This helps them understand your graph
quickly.
5) Make sure that your background color, texture, or picture does not interfere with the readability of your text. It doesn't matter how
pretty
your slide is if the audience can't read it!
6) Define terms and abbreviations. This is an interdisciplinary audience. Do not expect everyone to know the acronyms and abreviations
used commonly in your specific field.
7) Practice, practice, practice so that you know you will be within the time limit and you can relax knowing how you will express your
thoughts.
Practice in front of others - at your research group meeting, for example. They can tell you what parts are confusing.
Thank you for your participation and good luck!
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