Text 6B. POSTERS AND ORAL PRESENTATIONS
Good scientific research involves a sound methodology and a novel idea that can be tested simply and repeatedly to give valid, trustworthy results. However, even the most significant research is useless if it is not communicated successfully. Scientific ideas are novel, sometimes simple in theory, but most always complex in technique. These attributes of research make it necessary to use all available means of presentation. The most common media for scientists to communicate with the general public is journal articles. However, posters and oral presentations are also effective because they allow scientists to be in direct contact with their audience. This
provides both parties an opportunity to ask pertinent questions to add clarity to the work being presented.
A poster is like an exhibit at a museum. It is an excellent means of communicating scientific work because it is a pictorial representation that is more visual than any other forms of presentation. A poster also allows the researcher to associate with other presenters and, at the same time, be able to talk directly with the audience. For these reasons, a poster should be visually stimulating with minimal words. It should a concise, organised summary that is clearly written.
When designing a poster it is important to keep two things in mind: the scientific method and the audience. The scientific method is important because it directs the content of the poster. Although not all the headings that appear in a manuscript need to be included in a poster, but the order in which they appear in a written paper should be the same as they appear in a poster. A short abstract, a brief introduction, methods, results, discussion, references, and acknowledgements are possible headings that are often seen on scientific posters. It is important to realize that charts, graphs and tables are more important than wordy abstracts, introductions, and discussions. For this reason, the focus of a poster should be on the results. Large graphs with short captions are much more effective on a poster and should be kept in the center when designing a poster. Regardless of the type of conference or meeting at which the poster is being presented, it is important to keep in mind type of audience that will approach the poster. Technical, scientific jargon should be avoided. Instead, simple to follow language should be used. A brief background should be clearly stated and results should be interpreted for the audience.
Unlike presenting scientific work through a paper in which the researcher is glued to a computer for days, presenting a poster is quite fun. It is the only chance for the scientist to talk to the audience. For this reason, it is important to know the message that you want to get across and be able to deliver it successfully. Clear language and a good poster design are key to a successful poster presentation. Before the presentation, a brief 5 — 10 minutes’ verbal script should be prepared for the poster. During the presentation, it also helps to provide the audience with a postcard size summary of the poster.
Oral presentations are yet another avenue for scientists to share their findings with the world. Although it can be challenging to present years of works within fifteen minutes, oral presentations can be a rewarding experience. Some tips for oral presentations are as follows.
Know your audience. It is always a good idea to structure your talk so that anyone in the audience can understand what you are presenting. A good scientist should be able to present complex, scientific ideas, no matter how technical they are, in a simple, easy to follow manner. Complexity is not a necessity, it is an annoyance. Understand your purpose. This way you can get the point of your talk across appropriately and affectively by catering to your specific audience.
Be organised. Whether you are giving a 15 minutes’ talk or a 45 minutes’ talk, make sure you give yourself enough time to deliver all the information you want in a calm manner. Allocate time for questions and answers. Be able to summarise your presentation in five minutes.
Be concise. Use your space wisely. Use illustrations. Check grammar, spelling, and lay out of each slide. Keep an outline with you during the presentation; it will help you stay on track. Prepare backup slides. These will come in handy if a question comes up about a topic that needs further explanation.
Presentation. Practice your talk enough so that you have flow, but no so much that you have the entire talk memorised. Memorising your talk will bore you and your audience, as it will be monotonous.
Be professional. Know what you are presenting and be ready to answer question during and after the presentation. Do not answer questions vaguely. A knowledgeable scientist is specific and accurate with his/her information. Dress up to present with confidence and respect for the audience and the science involved. Be enthusiastic. Scientific talks can be boring, as often they are full of technical jargon. Be clear and talk simplistically. Make sure the presentation is visually pleasing. Add pertinent graphics and use fewer words.
Be aware of technical problems. Make sure the format you choose for your presentation is compatible with your style of speech. Also, be prepared for technical disasters just before your talk. Be able to give your talk in another format just in case your first choice (e.g. PowerPoint presentation) fails to load.
Oral presentations are an excellent means of communicating basic science research. Unlike a poster presentation or a written manuscript, the audience during an oral presentation is more attentive as they are focused on the presenter. For the researcher, this is a rare opportunity to shine! In as few as five minutes, the researcher can convey scientific information and give a years’ worth work some meaning that can be useful to thousands of people. Of course, this also means that in as few as five minutes, the researcher can cause a great deal of confusion by giving a bad presentation. Just as is the case with written manuscripts and poster presentations, oral presentations must also communicate research to include all aspects of the scientific method. There are, however, no rules as to what order and which format this should be done in. In order to deliver a successful talk, the presenter should be organised, prepared, and enthusiastic about the research being presented.