How to Deliver a Winning Scientific Presentation

8 actionable tips from my successful master's thesis defense

Hello everyone,

Welcome to the first edition of Anantha’s newsletter, where I share my thoughts and experiences on academia, research, and graduate school. In this issue, I want to talk about a topic that is very important for any researcher: how to prepare and deliver a scientific presentation.

As some of you may know, I recently defended my master’s thesis on quantum-enhanced generative learning, a novel approach that leverages the power of quantum computers to generate realistic data from distributions. It was a challenging but rewarding journey, and I learned a lot from the feedback I received from my committee and peers 🎓.

A thesis defense or a seminar presentation is an important step in any professional career. For instance, Prof. David Tong says that we can point out the exact talk which helped him land that job. But how do we give the perfect talk?

I did four postdocs before coming to Cambridge. And for three of these I can pinpoint the talk that got me the job --- meaning that, if I hadn’t given that talk, I wouldn’t have been offered that job.

- Prof David Tong

In this article, I want to share with you 8 essential tips that helped me improve my presentation and that I think can benefit anyone who wants to communicate their research effectively 🚀. So without due, let’s get started…

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Tip 1: Research quality and presentation quality go hand in hand 🤝

The first tip is obvious but often overlooked: the quality of your presentation reflects the quality of your research. You may have done groundbreaking work, but if you can’t explain it clearly and convincingly, you will lose the attention and interest of your audience. On the other hand, if you can convey your results in a way that anyone can understand and appreciate, you will make a lasting impression and inspire others to follow your work 🌎. So it is paramount to focus on the quality of your presentation since it defines your future collaborations, invitations, and opportunities.

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Tip 2: Audience analysis is key 🔑

The second tip is to know your audience and tailor your presentation accordingly. Different audiences have different backgrounds, expectations, and preferences. For example, experts in your field may want to see more technical details, evidence, and jargon 🔬, while non-experts may prefer more analogies, stories, and applications 📚. They want to know why a specific metric performed so well. How did you come up with this guess? Why did you not consider that hypothesis by another author? On the other hand, all researchers are interested in the big picture 🖼️: why is your work important, what are the main challenges, and what are the implications for the future?

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Tip 3: Speak confidently and use the right words 💬

The third tip is to speak with confidence and use appropriate language. Confidence comes from knowing your topic well and being prepared for any questions or objections. Language is a powerful tool to convey your message and persuade your audience. Use simple and clear words whenever possible, but don’t shy away from using technical terms when necessary. Avoid filler words like “um”, “uh”, or “like”. Strike a balance between simplicity and jargon 🧘‍♂️.

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Tip 4: Confidence requires practice 🏋️‍♂️

The fourth tip is to practice, practice, practice. Practice is the best way to improve your presentation skills and overcome any nervousness or anxiety. Practice by yourself, in front of a mirror, with a friend, or with a mentor. Practice out loud, with slides, with notes, or without notes. Practice until you feel comfortable and confident with every aspect of your presentation 💡. Anticipate possible questions and objections and prepare answers for them. Confidence becomes a consequence 😎.

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Tip 5: Don’t forget slide numbers! They help your audience follow your progress and structure 🗺️

The fifth tip is to add slide numbers to your presentation slides. Individual slide numbers and total slide numbers are a simple but effective way to help your audience follow your progress and structure. They also help you keep track of time and pace ⏱️. Slide numbers are your friends 😊

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Tip 6: Respect time ⌛

The sixth tip is to respect the time limit given for your presentation. It shows professionalism and courtesy to your audience and organizers. If you have one hour for your presentation, aim to finish in 45 minutes. If you have 15 minutes, aim to finish in 13 minutes. Condensing years of research into 15 minutes and conveying it coherently is hard, but that’s the skill to be learned here. That’s the skill to be mastered 💪.

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Tip 7: Graphs and plots convey much information in a small space. But they need to be well-designed and well-explained 📈🎨

The seventh tip is to use graphs and plots effectively in your presentation. Graphs and plots can convey much information in a small space, such as trends, patterns, comparisons, or correlations. But they must be well-designed and well-explained for your audience to understand them. Use labels, captions, colors, and shapes to highlight your main points. Use the right tools: matplotlib , seaborn , ggplot 🛠️ . Not excel or handmade cartoons.

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Tip 8: Research is driven by questions❔

The eighth and final tip is to start and end your presentation with a question. Questions are the driving force behind research. They motivate you to explore new ideas, challenge existing assumptions, and seek new solutions. Starting your presentation with a question will capture your audience’s attention and curiosity. Ending your presentation with a question will show your motivation and outlook for future work. It will also invite feedback and positive criticism from your audience. Science is a collective endeavor 👥 . You can build on others’ questions, and they can build on yours.

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I hope you enjoyed this article and found these tips useful for your next scientific presentation 😊 . If you have any questions or feedback for me, please leave a comment below. If you want to learn more about my research or connect with me on social media platforms, you can find me on Twitter or LinkedIn .

Thank you for reading!

Best,
Anantha