Danny's suggestions for REU students learning to give an oral presentation ==================================== Do ==================================== Outline Refer to it again and again Provide an intro that puts the work into a larger context, and provide a summary that describes the main result(s) 1-3 minutes/slide Slides are to enhance, not provide everything I prefer dark backgrounds Look at the audience, not the screen. Helps if there is a podium facing audience. You can use the mouse to point out things if using a laser pointer makes you face away from the audience; not a big deal for small rooms, though. Figures Large axis labels Describe axes Who/Why/How/What/What results Elegant finish: "Thank you" which is a cue for clapping; otherwise audience unsure Excellent way to convince the audience that you are honest with your data and analysis: show them subsets of your best five and worst five examples. Know your audience in advance! Start out slow to make it accessible to entire audience, and then ramp up. Avoid jargon when speaking to the less-experienced (e.g., students, physicists, etc..) Know your technology in advance! Check technology Have pdf as backup (reliable way to invoke slide "animations") Test how easy it is to see color images in the dark. I've heard way too many presenters say, for example, "Wow, that doesn't look good on the screen". John Wheeler used to pre-fill all the blackboards with detailed/colored pictures/diagrams, and then methodically go through each blackboard. Double view using laptop But be prepared for last-minute surprises in technology/viewing! Have back-up slides for anticipated questions Finish on time ==================================== Don't ==================================== Go too fast AAS disaster example: 45 minute talk in 5 minutes Overcrowd with text Belabor co-author help unless particularly illuminating (e.g., your student did a lot of work and is looking for a job!). Explaining co-authorship is a bit tedious. Simply include them on a beginning slide Get carried away with animations ==================================== Standard public speaking tools: ================================= Practice to friends/peers Anticipate questions Joke to get comfortable Eye contact Face the audience when speaking =================================== As a panel chair or member of the audience =================================== Be polite; save tough questions for one-on-one in the hallway Congratulate earlier-career / nervous astronomers on the quality of the presentation Have a question ready to go