Ten Secrets to Giving a Good Scientific Talk

More people will probably listen to your scientific talk than will read the paper you may write. Thus the scientific talk has become one of the most important communication forums for the scientific community. As proof, we need only look at the rising attendance at and the proliferation of meetings. In many ways your research reputation will be enhanced (or diminished) by your scientific talk. The scientific talk, like the scientific paper, is part of the scientific communication process. The modern scientist must be able to deliver a well organized, well delivered scientific talk I have compiled this personal list of "Secrets" from listening to effective and ineffective speakers. I don't pretend that this list is comprehensive - I am sure there are things I have left out. But, my list probably covers about 90% of what you need to know and do. Most scientific presentations use visual aids - and almost all scientific presentations are casual and extemporaneous1. This "scientific style" places some additional burdens on the speaker because the speaker must both manipulate visual media, project the aura of being at ease with the material, and still have the presence to answer unanticipated questions. No one would argue with the fact that an unprepared, sloppy talk is a waste of both the speaker's and audience's time. I would go further. A poorly prepared talk makes a statement that the speaker does not care about the audience and perhaps does not care much about his subject. So what are the secrets of a good talk? Here is my list of do's and don'ts. 1) Prepare your material carefully and logically. Tell a story. The story should have four parts: (a)Introduction (b) Method (c) Results (d) Conclusion/Summary. The Introduction should not just be a statement of the problem - but it should indicate your motivation to solve the problem, and you must also motivate the audience to be interested in your problem. In other words, the speaker must try and convince the audience that the problem is important to them as well as the speaker. The Method includes your approach and the caveats. To me , the Method becomes more interesting to the listener if this section is "story like" rather than "text book like". In other words "I did this and then I did that, but that didn't work so I did something else." This Rather than, "The final result was obtained using this approach." This adds the human element to your research which is always interesting. The Results section is a brief summary of your main results. Try and be as clear as possible in explaining your results - include only the most salient details. Less salient details will emerge as people ask questions. The Conclusion/Summary section should condense your results and implications. This should be brief - a bullet or outline form is especially helpful. Be sure to connect your

results with the overview statements in the Introduction. Don't have too many points three or four is usually the maximum. These four items are the core of a good talk. Good speakers often broaden the Introduction to set the problem within a very wide context. Good speakers may also add fifth item: Future Research. There is a crusty old saying among good speakers that describes a presentation from the communication viewpoint: "Tell'em what you are going to tell'em. Tell'em. Then tell'em what you told'em." The point of this aphorism is people absorb very little information at first exposure - multiple exposures are the best way for ideas to sink in. Thus, it is ok to state some of your results in the introduction, and then to repeat your main points in the results/ conclusion sections. 2) Practice your talk. There is no excuse for this lack of preparation. The best way to familiarize yourself with the material and get the talk's timing right is to practice your talk. Many scientists believe that they are such good speakers, or so super-intelligent that practice is beneath them. This is an arrogant attitude. Practice never hurts and even a quick run through will produce a better talk. Even better, practice in front of a small audience. 3) Don't put in too much material. Good speakers will have one or two central points and stick to that material. How many talks have you heard where the speaker squanders their time on unessential details and then runs out of time at the end? The point of a talk is to communicate scientific results, not to show people how smart you are (in case they can't figure it out for themselves). Less is better for a talk. Here is a good rule of thumb - each viewgraph takes about 1.5-2 minutes to show. Thus a 12minute AGU talk should only have 6-8 viewgraphs. How many "viewgraph movies" have you seen at the AGU? How effective were those presentations? Furthermore, no one has ever complained if a talk finishes early. Finally, assume most of the audience will know very little about the subject, and will need a clear explanation of what you are doing not just details. 4) Avoid equations. Show only very simple equations if you show any at all. Ask yourself - is showing the equation important? Is it central to my talk? The problem is that equations are a dense mathematical notation indicating quantitative relationships. People are used to studying equations, not seeing them flashed on the screen for 2 minutes. I have seen talks where giant equations are put up - and for no other purpose than to convince the audience that the speaker must be really smart. The fact is, equations are distracting. People stop listening and start studying the equation. If you have to show an equation - simplify it and talk to it very briefly. 5) Have only a few conclusion points. People can't remember more than a couple things from a talk especially if they are hearing many talks at large meetings. If a colleague asks you about someone's talk you heard, how do you typically describe it? You say something like "So and so looked at such and such and they found out this and that." You don't say, "I remember all 6 conclusions points." The fact is, people will only remember one or two things from your talk - you might as well tell them what to remember rather than let them figure it out for themselves.

6) Talk to the audience not to the screen. One of the most common problems I see is that the speaker will speak to the viewgraph screen. It is hard to hear the speaker in this case and without eye contact the audience loses interest. Frankly, this is difficult to avoid, but the speaker needs to consciously look at the object on the screen, point to it, and then turn back to the audience to discuss the feature. Here is another suggestion, don't start talking right away when you put up a viewgraph. Let people look at the viewgraph for a few moments - they usually can't concentrate on the material and listen to you at the same time. Speak loudly and slowly. . I like to pick out a few people in the audience and pointedly talk to them as though I were explaining something to them. 7) Avoid making distracting sounds. Everyone gets nervous speaking in public. But sometimes the nervousness often comes out as annoying sounds or habits that can be really distracting. Try to avoid "Ummm" or "Ahhh" between sentences. If you put your hands in your pockets, take the keys and change out so you won't jingle them during your talk. 8) Polish your graphics. Here is a list of hints for better graphics: 1. Use large letters (no fonts smaller than 16 pts!!) To see how your graphics will appear to the audience, place the viewgraph on the floor - can you read it standing up? Special sore points with me are figure axis and captions - usually unreadable. 2. Keep the graphic simple. Don't show graphs you won't need. If there are four graphs on the viewgraph and you only talk to one - cut the others out. Don't crowd the viewgraph, don't use different fonts or type styles - it makes your slide look like a ransom note. Make sure the graph is simple and clear. A little professional effort on graphics can really make a talk impressive. If someone in your group has some artistic talent (and you don't) ask for help or opinions. 3. Use color. Color makes the graphic stand out, and it is not that expensive anymore. However avoid red in the text - red is difficult to see from a distance. Also, check your color viewgraph using the projector. Some color schemes look fine on paper, but project poorly. 4. Use cartoons I think some of the best talks use little cartoons which explain the science. It is much easier for someone to follow logic if they can see a little diagram of the procedure or thought process that is being described. A Rube-Goldberg sort of cartoon is great for explaining complex ideas. 9) Use humor if possible. A joke or two in your presentation spices things up and relaxes the audience. It emphasizes the casual nature of the talk. I am always amazed how even a really lame joke will get a good laugh in a science talk. 10) Be personable in taking questions. Questions after your talk can be scary. But questions are very important. If there are no questions after a talk that I give, I am disappointed. It means that I failed to stimulate the audience, or that they understood nothing of what I said. I failed to communicate. Questions tell you what part of your talk the audience did not understand. Questions may also help you focus your research or help you in the write up. So what is the best way to answer questions?

1. First, repeat the question. This gives you time to think, and the rest of the audience may not have heard the question. Also if you heard the question incorrectly, it presents an opportunity for clarification. 2. If you don't know the answer then say "I don't know, I will have to look into that." Don't try to invent an answer on the fly. Be honest and humble. You are only human and you can't have thought of everything. 3. If the questioner disagrees with you and it looks like there will be an argument then defuse the situation. A good moderator will usually intervene for you, but if not then you will have to handle this yourself. e.g. "We clearly don't agree on this point, let's go on to other questions and you and I can talk about this later." 4. Never insult the questioner. He/she may have friends, and you never need more enemies. A couple miscellaneous points Thank you - It is always a good idea to acknowledge people who helped you, and thank the people who invited you to give a talk. Dress up - People are there to hear your material, but when you dress up you send the message that you care enough about the audience to look nice for them. Check your viewgraphs before you give the talk. Are they all there? Are they in order? This is especially important with slides. Try to bring them to the meeting in a tray, or at least check them to be sure they are not upside down or backwards when the projectionist gets them. It is especially annoying to watch people fumble to get a viewgraph right side up. Don't do this by looking at the screen. Just look at the viewgraph directly. If it is right side up to you, then it will project correctly on the screen assuming that you are facing the audience. Go over the slides or viewgraphs quickly before the talk. Some people attach little post-it notes to viewgraphs to remind them of points to make. This seems like a good idea to me. However, It is very annoying to watch people peel their viewgraphs from sheets of paper. It suggests that they have never looked at them before. It is faster, more permanent, and you are less likely to have a mixed up shuffle, if you put them into viewgraph holders which clip in to a three ring binder. If you have an electronic presentation - check out the system well before the talk.

How to Speak With Correct Grammar When you meet someone for the first time, the way that you speak can make a strong positive or negative impression. If you use incorrect grammar, it can give the impression that you are uneducated or that you do not consider it important to speak correctly. It is particularly important to use correct grammar when speaking to prospective employers or professional contacts.

Using Correct Grammar When Communicating Orally

1
Avoid subject-verb disagreement when speaking. When using a singular subject, you should use a singular verb, and when using a plural subject, a plural verb. Therefore, you should avoid saying things like "He don't" or "She don't." Instead say, "He doesn't" or "She doesn't." You should also avoid inadvertently choosing verbs that disagree with their subjects when you use expletive expressions to begin sentences. These expressions include "there is," "there are," here is" and "here are;" and although they begin sentences, they are pointing to or introducing the subject, which follows the verb, and are not subjects themselves (Barnwell & Dees, 1999). The problem of subject-verb disagreement usually occurs when people turn these expressions into contractions: there's, there're, here's and here're. For example, someone might say, "There's many people who don't understand my position," when he should say, "There're many people," because the subject of the sentence is "people," not "there."

2
Eliminate double negatives from your speech. Although it is considered acceptable to use two negatives if the meaning of a statement is positive, it is considered unacceptable to use two negatives to emphasize a negative meaning. In other words, it's considered correct to say, "Tom was not unhappy with his divorce settlement," since this statement has positive connotations ("Not" and "unhappy" are both negatives). Yet, it's incorrect to say, "Tom does not have to answer to nobody," because the statement does not have positive connotations ("Not" and "nobody" are both negatives.) One should instead say, "Tom does not have to answer to anybody."

3
Use pronouns that agree with their antecedents in person and in number. Therefore, you should not use a singular pronoun to refer to a plural noun, nor should you use a plural pronoun to refer to a singular noun. For example, you should not say, "The company where I work treats their employees poorly" because "company" is third-person singular, and "their" is third-person plural. Instead, you should say, "The company where I work treats its employees poorly." In addition, watch out for constructions wherein you are using the correlative conjunctions "neither\nor," "not only\but also" and "either\or." For example, you should not say, "Neither Tom nor Frank will share their sandwich," but instead say, "Neither Tom nor Frank will share his sandwich." After all, it's highly unlikely the two men are eating the same sandwich.

4
Listen to how you sound. Pay attention to how you sound when speaking not only in professional settings but also informal settings. Consider purchasing a tape recorder and recording yourself speaking. Listen not only to your enunciation and word choice but also verb and pronoun usage. Perhaps even consider asking friends to allow you to tape conversations when you're sitting around, relaxing and chatting, so you can hear how you sound when you're not making a concerted effort to speak correctly.

5
Study the rules of grammar. According to Martha Kolln, author of "Understanding English Grammar," the rules of grammar are defined as the "subconscious, internal system that enables us to generate grammatical sentences." Moreover, the rules that govern grammar are the "linguistic etiquette" or "the manners" of a language. Therefore, if you wish to exhibit linguistic etiquette and appear "mannerly" to your listeners, you must be able to speak using correct grammar. Yet, in order to speak correctly, you must first learn the rules, but you cannot learn those rules without making an effort, so you might consider taking a grammar course at school or online.

When you first learned English, you learned some ways to put sentences together. Over time you may have forgotten the grammar rules you learned and developed some poor grammar habits. If English is your first language, you may want some practice and pointers to help you use proper grammar. Improving your grammar will take some time and effort, but with a plan and practice, you can correct some of the grammar gaffes you sometimes make. Your writing and speaking skills will continue to progress as you practice using the grammar rules you learn. Identify common grammar mistakes that you make. Learn the different mistakes in grammar that speakers
of your native language often make if you are learning English. Some common grammar mistakes include using the contraction "it's" (it is) when the sentence called for "its," which shows possession. In addition, people often use "would of" instead of the correct "would have."

2
Make a plan to focus on one grammar rule or point at a time. You may want to spend a week on each grammar point so that you can conscientiously use it on a regular basis when you speak and when you write.

3
Use a grammar book to correct your grammar mistakes. You can also search the Internet for "English grammar" to see examples and explanations of the grammar points you want to learn. Take online grammar quizzes to perfect your knowledge and usage of grammar. Search the Internet for "English grammar quiz" to find examples.

4
Join an online language exchange, such as My Language Exchange, if you are a non-native English speaker You will meet online with a person who speaks English fluently and who wants to learn your native language. Ask your conversation partner to correct your grammar when the two of you talk together and to correct your writing when you email each other. If you are a native English speaker, ask a friend to remind you to use proper grammar when you speak and write.

5
Think about the grammar point you are learning throughout the week that you are focusing on it. Make an effort to use the grammar rule or point at least twice each day in your speaking and/or in your writing.

1.
o Make a plan. Try to get an overview of English grammar from a text book or online
resource. Note the grammar points you need to work on and plan to work on each for at least a few day.

2
Identify common mistakes. People who speak the same language often make the same mistakes in English grammar. For example, many Russian speakers have trouble using "a" and "the" in English. Find out what grammar points are often difficult for speakers of your native language. Pay extra attention to learning those grammar points.

3
Find some grammar exercises. To learn English grammar well, you'll need to practice each grammar point until you can use it easily. Look for a book of grammar exercises that also has answers. Online activities and quizzes can also help. Focus on just one grammar point each time you study.

4
Pay close attention to grammar when you read English. When you're trying to learn correct English grammar, it's not enough to understand general idea of what you read. You'll need to understand exactly why each sentence is written that way. When you read a sentence, ask yourself if can make similar sentences. If you can't or you're not sure, find text book exercises for those grammar points and practice.

5
Translate from your native language into English. When you write or speak your own thoughts, it's easy to avoid complicated grammar. When you translate, you have to work with whatever is on the page, even if the grammar is difficult. Start translating simple things like advertisments and then move to newpapers and magazine articles. Translating dialog in plays is another good way to practice.

6
Ask native speakers for advice. If you know any native English speakers, ask if they could check some of your writing now and then. If there are no native English speakers near you, look online for language learning forums or language exchange sites. Just remember if the native speaker is not a teacher, he or she may not be able to explain grammar rules.

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Tips & Warnings

Listen to English. When listening to English television programs, turn on the subtitles or closed captioning to your native language. Learn conversational English by reading along with subtitles or closed captioning as you listen to the speakers. Even entertainment programming is helpful; you will better understand the

language when paired with visual cues, such as the body language of the speaker and the social context of the spoken words.

2
Read English language books, newspapers and magazines. Begin with simple books and interesting magazines. Many newspapers are written so someone with the reading skills of a 9th- or 10th-grade student can understand the stories. Use an English dictionary to help you learn new words as you read. Reading English language will improve your vocabulary, grammar and basic sentence structure.

3
Speak English to others at home. When you learn a new word or phrase, use that word or phrase in place of your native language. Add a few new words daily to gradually increase the words and phrases you speak. Speak with native English speakers to increase your understanding and improve your pronunciation.