Scientists wear many hats. They’re researchers, data analysts, and critical thinkers who push boundaries and make new discoveries. One role that scientists often overlook is that of translator. They’re responsible for presenting their ideas to fellow scientists, the media, and interested members of the public.

It’s neglecting this role that often leads to scientific presentations being difficult to understand. We’ve all sat through presentations with illegible text, excessive detail, or a lack of clear structure. Even if you have a brilliant concept, a poorly executed presentation could lead to it being overlooked.

This subject isn’t a new one and it’s one that’s widely discussed within the scientific community. An article in the Society of Behavioral Medicine journal warned in 2021 that “poorly executed science communication hinders science dissemination, implementation, and sustainability.” This article offers practical advice on how to create more engaging, informative presentations that clearly translate your ideas.

The Problem with Many Scientific Presentations

Scientific presentations are plagued with many problems. We’ve all sat through presentations and lectures that have felt difficult to understand and stay engaged with.

Common issues with scientific presentations include:

Consequences of Bad Presentations

A bad presentation doesn’t just show your research in a bad light. It can have wider consequences. A poorly constructed presentation will confuse your audience and make it difficult to understand your research.

Creating engagement and excitement around your research with a successful presentation is key to securing potential collaborations and gaining interest in your work to facilitate future research.

Poor presentations, including relying too heavily on journal articles, can create a negative perception of science and make it inaccessible to the average individual.

7 Tips for Effective Scientific Presentations

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel to deliver an engaging presentation. Preparation is crucial and can help you avoid the common problems discussed above.

Designing an easy-to-follow presentation and curating your language to suit your audience is key to delivering an effective scientific presentation. Here are 7 ways to make your scientific presentations more engaging:

1. Focus on the Story

Every presentation needs a narrative. Before designing your presentation, create an outline that focuses on the problem your research addresses. Address the methods you’ve used and key findings. Identify ways to build a relatable narrative with a logical structure that’s simple to follow.

2. Visual Matter

Your slideshow or PowerPoint acts as the backdrop for your presentation. 65% of people are visual learners. Incorporating clear graphs and diagrams helps your audience interpret information. Use visuals to highlight key data points and short videos to explain more complex processes.

3. Bigger is Generally Better

When you’re designing your presentation, don’t forget that it’ll be shown on a large screen with your audience spread out around the room. Small fonts can be difficult to read, making it harder for audiences to keep up with your presentation. Avoid using text smaller than a size 18-point font and use clean or modern fonts. Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, and Times New Roman are all suitable for scientific presentations.

 4. Language is Key

Always consider your audience when choosing the language you use. Define any necessary jargon the first time you use it and stick to plain language wherever possible. You can use analogies and metaphors to help explain complex concepts.

5. Practice and Feedback

Do at least one full rehearsal of your presentation. Time the duration to ensure it’s not unnecessarily long and rehearse in front of colleagues. Take on board constructive feedback and adjust your slides and delivery style accordingly.

 6. Strong Start, Memorable Finish

Your presentation needs a hook. Start with a compelling question, a relatable example, or a surprising statistic that instantly grabs the audience’s attention. How you finish your presentation is just as important. Leave your audience wanting more by summarizing your findings, hinting at potential future research, and providing a clear call to action.

 7. Signposting

While you might have a script to follow for your presentation, your audience will need signposting to follow it in a logical structure. Use transition phrases like “this result implies” and “in summary” to guide your audience through your presentation.

Additional Consideration for Presentations

Context is everything. Your presentation should be crafted with your audience and the wider context in mind.

You wouldn’t present the same information to an audience of undergraduates as a group of C-suite executives. The complexity of the information you present, and how you deliver the information, should be tailored to suit your audience.

Production quality is everything. You don’t have to break the bank to create a sleek, professional-looking presentation that keeps your audience engaged. Software like Canva allows you to present your findings with interactive slides.

Conclusion | Scientific Presentations Aren’t Data Dumps

Approaching scientific presentations as data dumps or just a visual interpretation of your research means your findings can often get lost in translation.

Presentations are an opportunity to nurture collaborations, build relationships, and share the excitement of your work. You can take your career to the next level and further your research by investing time and effort into developing your communication skills.

Use the 7 tips above to improve your scientific presentations and open the doors to new opportunities.