Tips for a successful talk

So you have been invited to give a talk on your research? What should you prepare? How should you practice?

My own top three tips are:

1. fit your talk into the alloted time
2. know your audience
3. don't bury your result

As an example, consider what happened to me recently when I travelled to a meeting of the Alumini Association of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

• second draft of presentation (PDF)

For more information

There are many good sources for tips and suggestions on giving effective presentations. I've listed just a few below.

• Ten Secrets to Giving a Good Scientific Talk by Mark Schoeberl and Brian Toon.
• "Guides to giving good scientific talks" collected by Steven Cranmer at the CfA
• Giving a Good Scientific Presentation from the American Society of Primatologists
• Creating a 10-15 Minute Scientific Presentation is presented as a set of short video guides, from Collaborative Learning and Integrated Mentoring in the Biosciences

This page maintained by Michael Richmond. Last modified Nov 9, 2015.