A Guide to Prepare and Deliver the Most Stunning Scientific Presentations | #powerpointdesigners

We live in an era where we are exposed to magnanimous amounts of data on a daily basis. In a world where 2.5 quintillions of data is being produced every single day, we are bound to feel overwhelmed and get influenced by biases, false notions, and unbalanced beliefs. 

Thus, in such an environment, it is crucial to emphasize the need for scientific presentations and throw light on their objective and accurate nature. There are various factors to look out for a while crafting and delivering a scientific presentation. Here are a few ways through which you can prepare for your next scientific presentation and ace it!

Preparation Phase

1. Research for the ‘Uncertain’

When it comes to scientific presentations, there are no boundaries to questions that your audience can ask. Hence, it is crucial to research above the curve and prepare for unanticipated questions.

You can do this by studying additional references that you might have added in the presentation, looking up facts related to your slides, and remembering definitions of scientific terms and values. To make your task easier, you can carry placards with facts and figures, as they would come in handy while responding to the audience.

2. Focus on the Audience’s Needs

Before you draft your presentation outline, focus on the needs of your audience. Here are a few questions that you must answer before collecting information for your slides –

• How much does the audience know about your subject? Are they amateurs or professionals?
• Do you need to begin with the basics, or can you commence with the technicalities?
• Is your audience expecting result-driven data, or are they looking for generalized information?

You can ask related questions during the registration process, as it will help you analyze their needs accordingly. It will also help determine the amount of background material you would require to create your presentation.

3. Follow a Specific Structure

To prepare a stunning presentation, it is necessary to focus on its organization and structuring. Instead of bulldozing your way through the slides, craft an outline and work according to it. You can start by listing the number of slides along with their headings, such as Introduction, Methods, Pros and Cons, Results, Conclusion, Questions, etc.

This will allow you to categorize information strategically and will give your audience a brief of what they can expect throughout the presentation.

4. Put the Spotlight on the Results

Your results are the spotlight of the show. They are a credit to your hard work and reflect your expertise and experience in the given field. Hence, it is crucial to throw some light on the results as well.

Now, instead of using methods as old as the hills, it is time to use captivating graphics and visuals that can intrigue the audience in the blink of an eye. For instance, rather than filling the slides with numbers, you can create a graph or chart with those values. If the task of crafting such visuals seems burdensome, you can use expert-designed templates and add them to your slides. You can use multiple colors, experiment with different alignments, and craft a stunning result slide. SketchBubble is a great place for professionally designed PowerPoint presentation templates. 

Delivery Phase

1. Practice and Rehearse Well

Before you step up to present on the final day, make sure that you practice innumerable times before that. While practice might seem like a tedious task, it is the only way to ensure you gain an edge over your competitors. With each rehearsal, your efficiency as a presenter gets better. You are exposed to numerous errors, such as audio-video lag, animation glitches, equipment issues, etc. Therefore, practice gives you ample time to fix each one of them before your big day and ensure a flawless presentation on stage.

2. Get Creative – Perform an Experiment or Play a Demonstration

While numbers are a good source of proof, a person is more likely to buy your theory when it is backed by a live experiment. Do not be afraid of getting onto the stage and performing a scientific demonstration. Instead, hop on to it, as it can make the audience believe in your experiment and open multiple doors of opportunities. If you cannot physically present the experiment, put up a video of you performing it elsewhere. It will help immensely towards the success of your presentation.

3. Keep Some Time for Audience Questions

Before you wind off your presentation, make some room for questions from the audience, and seek their feedback. Make sure to keep your cool during this period, as some people might have opinions that wouldn’t be similar to yours or ask questions that seem baseless, but it is your response towards them that would help you connect with the audience and win their hearts!

Conclusion

Even though we are boundless and have no limitations when it comes to accessing data and proving research results, some experts do believe in testing theories by grilling them with scrutiny and questions. This is often done to ensure that you are rock solid with your theory and are ready to make the world believe in it. A presentation is a great way to get people’s trust in your scientific findings, so ensure you deliver it right!

We hope these tips and techniques help you conquer the stage during your next presentation.