Effective Research Presentations: Communicating Your Scientific Findings
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 clinically 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. At a conference or symposium, though, we have to work hard to get our point across in a very short time in a pretty small space.
Beyond the things we say, we can use words, data, images and design of our posters and slides to better communicate our chosen message to our specific audience. We all want to be able to effectively communicate our research.
Common Media for Scientific Communication
The most common media for scientists to communicate with the general public is primary journal articles. However, posters and oral presentations are also effective because they allow scientists to be in direct contact with their audience. Most poster presentation events follow similar guidelines, so much of this advice will be relevant to professional conferences.
Let's delve into the specifics of each:
Poster Presentations
A poster is an exciting way for scientists to present their research. It, just as a primary research article, includes all aspects of the scientific method. A title that is brief, but specific, an abstract, an introduction, material and methods, results, and a conclusion are some headings that can appear on a poster. Also, references and acknowledgments are sometimes are included.
A poster is different from a written manuscript or an oral presentation because it is mostly graphical. As such, it is important to design a poster that is visually pleasing by focusing on charts, graphs, and pictures and minimizing lengthy introductions and discussions.
Here's a table summarizing key elements of an effective research poster:
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Title | Brief and specific |
| Abstract | Concise summary of the research |
| Introduction | Background information |
| Materials and Methods | How the research was conducted |
| Results | Key findings |
| Conclusion | Interpretation of results and implications |
| Visuals | Charts, graphs, and pictures |
This document provides tips and temples for designing a poster presentation.
Oral Presentations
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 because you are the only one front of an audience whose attention you know have. Of course this emphasizes the need to speak clearly and concisely with choice words that engross the audience.
An oral presentation is usually more than just reading a paper or set of slides to an audience (though in some disciplines, this is the expectation). How you deliver your presentation is as important in communicating your message as what you say.
This document provides tips and guidelines for designing an oral presentation.
Here are some additional resources to refine your oral presentation skills:
Assertion-Evidence Approach
The research presentations on this page are model talks given by graduate students. All presentations follow the assertion-evidence approach.
Examples of Research Presentations
- Michelle Kehs: A PhD student in mechanical engineering from Penn State, gives a research talk on the optimized control of a buoyant wind turbine. Such turbines operate hundreds of meters in the atmosphere where the wind currents are stronger. Michelle studied in the laboratory of Professor Hosam Fathy.
- Jacob Snyder: A PhD student in mechanical engineering from Penn State, gives a research presentation about the effect of the build direction on tolerances of additively manufactured microchannels in a gas turbine engine.
- Marie Roald: A PhD student in computer science from Simula Research Laboratory, applies the assertion-evidence approach to a mathematical subject.
- Kathryn Kirsch: A PhD student in mechanical engineering from Penn State, discusses the application of additive manufacturing (AM) to blades in gas turbine engines. Kathryn worked for Professor Karen Thole in the Penn State START Laboratory. Kathryn recently won best paper awards at an IGTI Conference (Heat Transfer Division) and an AIAA Conference (Best Paper Overall).
- Shawn Siroka: A PhD student in mechanical engineering from Penn State, makes a pitch for the gas turbine facility named START: Steady Thermal Aero Research Turbine.
This is an excellent site that covers all aspects of a poster presentation from creating a poster to presenting one. It also provides several examples with critiques for each sample. This site is cited by the NIH and is quite useful when designing an oral presentation. It addresses all aspects of a scientific talk from planning and preparing to practicing and presenting.