Everyone prepares differently and has a different presenting style. The points below are to be taken as suggestions of what works for many people, not as instructions applicable to everyone.

 

Preparing your talk

• Think about the structure – the intro, the body of the talk and the conclusion

• Tell a story

• Prepare a take-home message – the one thing that you want people to remember

• Make what you’re saying relevant to the lives of the audience members

• Give context to what you are saying

• Use humour only when appropriate – don’t force it

• Make your opening engaging – it sets the tone of your talk

• Make people think ‘I want to know more’

• Avoid jargon and being over-scientific – find simpler synonyms

• Don’t say too much – there’s only so much an audience can absorb

• Try your talk out on someone without a science background (friends or family)

• Make sure you fit into the time limit (3 minutes)

• Practise, practise, practise

 

Giving your talk

• Take your time walking on stage

• Don’t start speaking the second you walk on stage - make a short pause before you start

• Don’t be too stiff – assume natural stances

• Don’t step back and forth pointlessly – it’s distracting

• Make your gestures bigger on stage

• Avoid monotony – especially in your voice

• Make eye contact with the whole room, not just one side

 

Props

 

Visual aids are NOT the presentation! They’re a tool to SUPPORT it!

 

Visual aids SHOULD:

• Have a purpose

• Be visible to everyone in the audience

• Reinforce your key message

• Illustrate difficult concepts

 

Visual aids should NOT:

• Distract from what you’re saying

• Be confusing or too complicated

• Be indiscernible – be especially careful where writing is involved

 

What grabs and holds the audience’s attention

• New interesting information

• Your passion about the subject

• Humour (i.e. jokes, anecdotes, etc.)

• Suspense and surprise

• Connection to everyday life

• Props

• Controversy

 

 

Show your passion for science. Make us care.

 

Enjoy it! Love it! This is your moment!