How to give a scientific talkM. Stute & S. Pfirman

Department of Environmental Science

Barnard College/Columbia University

Dallas AbbottLamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

Guidelines for giving scientific talks

• structure

• tables

• figures

• preparation of presentation

• giving the presentation

• questions and answers

Structure• basic rule

– say what you are going to say (1-3 main points)

– say it

– then say what you said (summarize main points)

– keep in mind why and to whom you are giving this presentation

• structure– subject, author(s)

– overview

– background

– information

– conclusion

Tables

• tables are useful for a small amount of data

• include units

• indicate data source if they are not your own

• should be legible on 3 x 5 index card

Esopus Creek

Discharge of the Esopus Creek (Coldbrook, NY) and precipitation at Slide Mountain, NY (source: USGS/NCDC)

date discharge precipitation date discharge precipitation(cf/s) (in/day) (cf/s) (in/day)

1-Nov 631 0 1-Dec 1480 0.072-Nov 808 0 2-Dec 2920 0.963-Nov 794 0.08 3-Dec 2380 04-Nov 826 0 4-Dec 1990 05-Nov 1060 1.09 5-Dec 1770 06-Nov 1080 0.48 6-Dec 1620 0.17-Nov 1040 0.28 7-Dec 1500 08-Nov 779 0 8-Dec 1420 09-Nov 686 0 9-Dec 1350 0

10-Nov 670 0 10-Dec 1290 011-Nov 696 0.53 11-Dec 1280 0.112-Nov 831 0.23 12-Dec 1330 0.4713-Nov 985 0.45 13-Dec 1280 014-Nov 1080 0.14 14-Dec 1250 0.5715-Nov 1350 0.65 15-Dec 1190 0.0416-Nov 1430 0 16-Dec 1180 017-Nov 2440 1.6 17-Dec 1160 0.1718-Nov 2280 0 18-Dec 1120 0.0119-Nov 2040 0 19-Dec 1080 020-Nov 1830 0.55 20-Dec 1070 021-Nov 1650 0 21-Dec 1080 022-Nov 1560 0 22-Dec 1060 023-Nov 1520 0.39 23-Dec 1060 0.1824-Nov 1410 0 24-Dec 1050 025-Nov 1320 0 25-Dec 1050 0.526-Nov 1310 0.11 26-Dec 986 027-Nov 1450 0.78 27-Dec 1010 028-Nov 1560 0.22 28-Dec 1010 0.0729-Nov 1550 0.45 29-Dec 977 030-Nov 1480 0 30-Dec 972 0

31-Dec 957 0

Esopus Creek

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3500

1-Nov 8-Nov 15-Nov 22-Nov 29-Nov 6-Dec 13-Dec 20-Dec 27-Dec

Date in 1992

Discharge rate (cf/s)

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

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1.8

Precipitation (in/day)

discharge (cf/s)

precipitation (in/day)

Discharge of the Esopus Creek (Coldbrook, NY) andprecipitation at Slide Mountain, NY (source: USGS/NCDC)

Figures• ‘1 figure 1000 words’

• keep figures simple, consider using color

• figures should be readable and understandable

• explain axes and variables

• include reference on figure

Figures...

• create a summary cartoon with major findings or illustration of the problem, show it at the beginning and the end

• can use web sources for cartoons (include reference to website)

• the entire figure should be visible

Preparing the presentation

• average not more than 1 slide per minute

• use key words or ‘bullets’ (~3-7 per page)

• avoid using complete sentences

• use presentation software (e.g. MS Powerpoint now standard)

• use color only for clarification

• speelcheck

Preparing the presentation...• allow at least one minute per slide

• make sure you are familiar with the projection equipment and Powerpoint

• practice your presentation– stay within the time limit!– try speaking too loud to get a feeling where the

upper limit is– avoid reading the presentation– make notes on slides indicating key points

Giving the presentationexperienced speakers:

– speak freely

– look directly at audience

inexperienced speakers:– put outline and key points of your presentation on

slides

– put additional notes on index cards

– this procedure helps:

• comfort: you don’t have to remember what to say

• eyes are on the slide not on you

• key points are there for people who weren’t listening

• do not black out parts of figures• stand where the figures can be seen• look at people during presentation• don’t worry about stopping to think• be enthusiastic• do not forget acknowledgements and give proper

credit• ending your talk: say ‘thank you’ then pause and

say: ‘Any questions?’• don’t rush (especially for non-native audience)

Giving the presentation...

concerned about questions?– ask people to hold their questions until the end

– if someone asks a question that you will answer later in your talk, say so

– prepare for difficult questions (prepare extra slides?)

– keep your answers short and to the point

– don’t say that question is bad, just ask them to rephrase it

– if you can’t answer the question immediately, ask them to meet you afterwards

Questions and answers