Thread by @bioinfo_mark

I’m still surprised by the poor talks at scientific conferences, including from 99% of PIs (regardless of institution). Yes, it likely includes you. Sorry.

My goal is NOT to criticize, but to help.

🧵

#AAIC #AAIC2022 #AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #phdchat #ScienceTwitter

If you’ve ever been to a talk you didn’t understand, it’s probably because the talk was poorly done. It’s not because you’re “stupid”.

We need better presentation training. Conferences would be much more impactful.

Conferences should include regular trainings.

I’m not the greatest presenter, but I have learned some great techniques that really help your audience.

Some of these tips are adapted from things I learned in Writing in the Sciences by @KristinSainani.

Everyone should take her course (including/esp. senior PIs)

I just attended a talk by Bonnie Lee (@bonniee_leee) at #AAIC2022 #AAIC.

If you want to see presentation skillz at their finest, watch one of her talks!

She is a *fantastic* presenter and uses similar techniques (and probably others)!

Tip 1.1: What is the purpose of your talk?

If you *genuinely* care about your work (not your ego), your talk is all about your *audience*.

It is NOT about you. It is NOT to impress your audience.

Tip 1.2:
U have one job: to *simply* and *clearly* communicate ur work AND why the audience cares.

Bring it “home” with every slide. What does it ultimately mean? It’s NOT obvious to them.

i.e., it’s obvi to u why ur finding is important to the field. It’s NOT to ur audience.

Tip 1.3: If you can’t present your work clearly, and convince your audience that they should care, then your research is basically wasted.

Best-case scenario: your work will not maximize impact.

Worst case: no impact.

Tip 2: Reduce talk content.

It’s simply not possible to give a good and palatable 12-minute talk including *all* of your data.

It’s better to have less content (well explained) than to blow through tons of data no one understands—“way better”, to put it scientifically. 😊

Tip 3: Background, background, background!!

You *must* give appropriate background. Orient your audience!

This changes dramatically based on audience. Do not assume your audience knows the background for your teeny tiny niche, even if they’re “experts” in your general area.

Tip 4: minimize (not eliminate) content about methods (unless the methods are your results).

Don’t get me wrong, clear methods are critical, but save details for the paper. For talks, people are there for your results. They can ask details after your talk or read in the paper.

Tip 5: Don’t just *tell* your audience—*show* them.

Other than your slide title, minimize text!

Show them with *simple* & *clear* plots, informative images, biological cartoons showing your model, tables (if you must), etc.

Tip 6: slide titles should state exactly (and concisely) what the audience should learn from the slide.

If you can’t give a single point that the audience should learn from the slide, the slide is too complex (i.e., you need another slide).

Tip 7: Slide titles should be a statement, not a topic.

Bad title examples:
1. “Background”
2. “Cats”

Good:
1. “Increased <gene name> expression drives <phenotype> in <population>” (show data)
2. “Cats exhibit euphoric behavior when administered catnip” (show cute cat video)

Tip 8: Use *clean* and *simple* slides

Empty space is your friend!

(Almost) *never* use a slide full of figures.

If you bring up a slide full of figures, it overwhelms your audience and they get lost.

General rule: 1-2 figures per slide

Tip 9.1: *Carefully* and *slowly* walk your audience through *every* figure!

No matter how simple a slide/plot is, the audience needs *time* to digest it. They need to know what the axes are before interpreting the data *in* the plot.

Walk them through the axes! Then the data!

Tip 9.2: if you are showing many of the same figure with the *same* axes, you can move more quickly through the subsequent figures because the audience is already oriented. You can focus on the data *in* the figure.

Tip 9.3:

Do NOT bring up figures and say “as you can see…” and move on. I’m fact, never say “as you can see…”.

No, your audience did NOT see. Show them! Walk them through it! They need time to interpret your slide, so help them!

Use the pointer so they know where you are!

Tip 10.1 (*important*): Think carefully about (and practice) all transitions.

The moment you bring up a new slide, your audience stops listening to you and starts reading your slide. They feel obligated to understand what you brought up.

Tip 10.2:
Conversely, once you have finished explaining a slide, *you* (not your slide) have the audience’s attention.

Take this opportunity to briefly introduce what’s coming on the next slide *before* you bring it up!

Tip 10.3 (preferred): as an alternative to introducing your next slide before bringing it up, you can bring up the next slide *blank* except the slide title.

Then the audience reads the title and turns their attention back to *you* as you finish introducing what’s coming up.

Tip 10.4: if you have multiple figures on a single slide, bring them up *one at a time* or you will lose their attention. They will be trying to interpret everything before you even get there.

This will also help the audience know where you are on the slide.

Use the pointer!!

Tip 11.1: This is not the Oscar’s.

I get it. We want to give credit to our peers/trainees/etc, but unless ur defending ur dissertation, do NOT waste the audience’s time thanking everyone. Include your acknowledgment slide and leave it there.

Tip 11.2: Instead of verbally thanking everyone that helped, include names and photos on specific slides *throughout* your talk where they helped. No need to mention them. The audience will see their faces

It’s way more impactful for those you want to emphasize and thank, anyway

Tip 12: remember, this about the *audience*. Include your most meaningful 1 or 2 figures (prominently) on your acknowledgment slide to promote questions.

Tip 13: Speak slowly and annunciate.

It is especially challenging (and important) when speaking second language.

I get it. I know how hard it is to speak a second language. I lived in foreign country for 2 yrs. Slowing down and annunciating *really* helps your audience.

Tip 14: pauses/silence are good

As speakers, we fear silence. Pauses and silence are one of ur most valuable tools.

I’m not suggesting to be “dramatic”, but pause at key places for ur audience to process what u said. They need *time* to assess w/o ur voice in their head. 😊

Tip 15: Don’t be afraid of giving a “bad” talk!

Ok, I realize it feels like I just reamed *everyone* out there, and you may feel like I and others are judging you & your talk.

Please don’t feel that way. These are just simple tips to maximize ur impact. That’s our goal, right?

Tip 15.1: Go up there like you belong, because you do!

*You* belong there as much as anyone. You’re not a fraud! (as long as u didn’t fabricate data 😂)

Ur abstract was chosen. Go up there and share ur excitement with the audience. They came bc they *want* to hear ur results!

Tip 15.2: My goal was simply to identify common pitfalls that make it hard for the audience to understand talks.

We have all been new, etc., and we can all (especially me) improve our talks. Don’t fear that, but *embrace* it. Welcome it!

Tip 15.3: Be *you* and don’t fret over “mistakes”

I often semi-stutter or struggle for words. That’s ok! That’s just me!

Anyway, I hope this has been helpful. The last thing I want is for anyone (esp. trainees) to fear talks. I want us to help each other.

You’ve got this!