Preparing Effective Presentations in Science and Mathematics
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Science and mathematics instructors, and employers and colleagues on the job, will expect your presentations to be grounded in the scientific method. Credible presentations must clearly illustrate the nature of the research question, ideally in a way that audience members will find compelling and relevant, describe the methods used in gathering and analyzing data, and explain the results.
Clearly executed presentation aids often are critical to scientific and mathematical presentations, and instructors generally require them. Aids can range from data tables and graphs to equations drawn on a chalkboard.
Typically, instructors will expect you to do the following:
- Use observation, proofs, and experiments as support for your points.
- Be selective in your focus on details, highlighting critical information but not overwhelming listeners with details they can learn about by referring to the written paper and the cited sources.
- Use analogies to build on prior knowledge and demonstrate underlying causes (see Chapter 23 on guidelines on explaining difficult concepts).
- Use graphics to illustrate important concepts.
Scientific and mathematical presentations need not be dry and merely factual. Experimentation is a process of discovery, and the fits and starts that often accompany their completion can make for compelling anecdotes during your talk.
Checklist: Tips for Preparing Successful Scientific Presentations
Create an informative title that describes the research.
Place your presentation in the context of a major scientific principle.
Focus on a single issue and adjust it to the interests of your audience.
Identify the underlying question you will address, divide it into subquestions, and answer each question.
Follow a logical line of thought.
Explain scientific concepts unambiguously, with a minimum of jargon.
Use analogies to increase understanding.
End with a clearly formulated conclusion related to your chosen scientific principle.
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