The most important lesson I've learned over the course of my PhD is: a presentation is not a paper. All the details you spent days working out are not important. Don't even bother saying them. The audience can go look up the paper for that. The breakdown I have in my head for an ideal talk (or an ideal "part" of a talk): - Setup on problem (30% of talk) - One slide stating what methods were used - Key results (50% of talk) - Implications of results (20% of talk) They key point being what's missing: any attempt to walk the audience from the setup to the results. Maybe I can provide some high-level explanation as a part of the results, but absolutely no algebra - even to a theory audience (I say as a theorist myself). At least in most contexts, *contrary* to every presentation you do for a class, a research presentation isn't about "proving you can do the work" - that's pretty much assumed at this point. Instead, it's about informing the audience of your results and the importance thereof - so make sure anything you're saying is addressing *that* goal.
And a note to my experimental colleagues: I don't need a picture of your physical apparatus, at least on a slide meant to be informative (title slide is OK, especially if it looks cool. I don't *care* what your equipment looks like, it's not relevant your point. No, not even if you're talking about some part of your machine - show me the minimal schematic that addresses the point your making, not some complicated mess with certain parts highlighted. [Opinions on experimental talks by other experimentalists may differ from mine as a theorist, but if I see a labeled picture or a giant schematic, I almost always assume they were too lazy to make a figure better suited to that slide's purpose - not a good look.]
I hope there’s another Andy for my non-science-y major. Also, I’m doing a Phd in my second language, so sometimes I have to memorize tons of sentences to elevate the added pressure of explaining the content + talking in a second language.
You just changed everything, thank u so much for your tips, I'm autistic and ADHD and had no clue how to make a good slideshow, you just gave me key points, love ya, hugs from Brazil.
Since the pandemic i think we all got a little worse at presenting on public... Because in zoom you can just look at the slides at all time and read them. There's no exposure to the public and no visual interaction. That is something i learned when preparing my master's degree defense.
Thanks andy for your brilliantly presented presentation on presenting presentations! Honest, succinct, clear and i always leave the end of your videos how i leave meetings with those gifted inspiring, motivating and empowering individuals feeling like "yes! I can do this!". If only the academic researcher development workshop presenters at my institution could take a cue from you: i left the last "effective communication" session they ran as they were dry, boring and i didnt get the point of what they were saying. Hmm. And we wonder why ineffective communication perpetuates in academia.
Hi Andy! Thank you for the share such valuable knowledge with the internet. I have a specific request! I want to present about 12 articles to my PhD supervisor, and each article includes objective, methodology, and gap or limitation! How should I prepare such a presentation so that it is engaging and professional? Can you please make a video about it?
From India I am ur biggest fan, I got research analyst job by following you.waiting to get my first month salary on August 1 😊 ,today it's July 30... 😬
The most important lesson I've learned over the course of my PhD is: a presentation is not a paper. All the details you spent days working out are not important. Don't even bother saying them. The audience can go look up the paper for that.
The breakdown I have in my head for an ideal talk (or an ideal "part" of a talk):
- Setup on problem (30% of talk)
- One slide stating what methods were used
- Key results (50% of talk)
- Implications of results (20% of talk)
They key point being what's missing: any attempt to walk the audience from the setup to the results. Maybe I can provide some high-level explanation as a part of the results, but absolutely no algebra - even to a theory audience (I say as a theorist myself).
At least in most contexts, *contrary* to every presentation you do for a class, a research presentation isn't about "proving you can do the work" - that's pretty much assumed at this point. Instead, it's about informing the audience of your results and the importance thereof - so make sure anything you're saying is addressing *that* goal.
And a note to my experimental colleagues: I don't need a picture of your physical apparatus, at least on a slide meant to be informative (title slide is OK, especially if it looks cool.
I don't *care* what your equipment looks like, it's not relevant your point. No, not even if you're talking about some part of your machine - show me the minimal schematic that addresses the point your making, not some complicated mess with certain parts highlighted.
[Opinions on experimental talks by other experimentalists may differ from mine as a theorist, but if I see a labeled picture or a giant schematic, I almost always assume they were too lazy to make a figure better suited to that slide's purpose - not a good look.]
Great comment
I hope there’s another Andy for my non-science-y major. Also, I’m doing a Phd in my second language, so sometimes I have to memorize tons of sentences to elevate the added pressure of explaining the content + talking in a second language.
"The fourth bullet point is to not use bullet points"
You just changed everything, thank u so much for your tips, I'm autistic and ADHD and had no clue how to make a good slideshow, you just gave me key points, love ya, hugs from Brazil.
Really really good tips (we weren't told about), as per usual! Thanks Andy.
Since the pandemic i think we all got a little worse at presenting on public... Because in zoom you can just look at the slides at all time and read them. There's no exposure to the public and no visual interaction. That is something i learned when preparing my master's degree defense.
Thanks andy for your brilliantly presented presentation on presenting presentations! Honest, succinct, clear and i always leave the end of your videos how i leave meetings with those gifted inspiring, motivating and empowering individuals feeling like "yes! I can do this!".
If only the academic researcher development workshop presenters at my institution could take a cue from you: i left the last "effective communication" session they ran as they were dry, boring and i didnt get the point of what they were saying.
Hmm. And we wonder why ineffective communication perpetuates in academia.
Perfect timing for my Confirmation of Candidature presentation - thanks Andy :)
Perfect!
Just a comment for the algorithm - Excellent content Andy!
Your delivery is excellent
The part about people's face are so right :) Amazing jumper :)
Hi Andy! Thank you for the share such valuable knowledge with the internet. I have a specific request! I want to present about 12 articles to my PhD supervisor, and each article includes objective, methodology, and gap or limitation! How should I prepare such a presentation so that it is engaging and professional? Can you please make a video about it?
Great video. Thanks for sharing your insights!!!
Cheers!!!
Best ,it's so motivating
From India I am ur biggest fan, I got research analyst job by following you.waiting to get my first month salary on August 1 😊 ,today it's July 30... 😬
Great video, so true!
wow thanks Andy! I will have conference presentation next week!
Thanks a lot Andy 🤓
Great advice Andy
Don't stop making videos!
Thanks..thought you were gonna tell us which are the best AI tools for making presentations
😂 was thinking same but no AI for us this time round
Please make a video on how to write a call for papers
Presentation is hard because people are there to judge your performance.😊
I will stand away from the podium from now on so I am perceived as supernatural 👻
Two things I took away from this… repeat everything repeatedly and use bullets to talk about bullet points
(all the tips were great btw).
I think giving a presentation in a top with a sausagedog wearing a hoody is a sure way to get peoples attention :D
I asked in another video if the data matters, honestly it does?
can you please do a video about using midjourney for generating images for a scientific presentation? with some examples? :)
Pixabay
unsplash
midjourney
Hey..How do we contact you?