There are many ways in which scientists communicate their work, publications, poster or oral presentations or via individual conversations. In terms of leaving a deep impression about your work and yourself, oral presentations are a very powerful way. However, many scientists are scared of the prospect to stand in front of a large and potentially critical audience to present their work. They rush through the presentations, clinging onto overloaded slides and miss a crucial chance to show themselves in a positive light.

Seminar contents

Preparation

• Target the audience and setting
• Have or craft a storyline
• From start to finish. ‘Clamp’ your presentation

Your performance

• Stage fright: enjoy the adrenaline rush
• Body language
• Personality types: can you score well as an introvert? How authentic can/shall you be?
• Pace, voice, interaction
• Stylistic figures

Slide design

• No overloaded slides!
• Graphics vs. text
• Best- and worst-practice examples

Q&A sessions: and you just thought it´s over already…

• Be an active scientist: asking questions yourself
• Counter challenging questions

Your own presentation

• Integrate what you have learned and get feedback

Presenting online: How to make best use of this format

• Setting the stage: sound, light, desk height, camera settings, background and how to look good
• A professional (first) impression: online versus offline
• Adapting your presentation to this new medium
• Engaging and connecting with your online audience
• The right energy levels: how does online differ from offline?
• Video conferencing etiquette: speaking up, taking turns, time delays

Course flow online

About making notes during the course

All participants receive a script of the course in PDF format for offline and future use so that they can work through the material offline as well as after the course. All videos contain a full, downloadable transcript. All eBooks on the learning platform are downloadable in pdf format.

You have the opportunity to receive feedback on your presentation.

This course can be combined with the courses Negotiation and Convincing and debating to give the integrated programme Argumentation and presentation.

This course can be combined with Poster presentation and Self-presentation and networking to give the integrated 4-to 5-day programme At the conference.

Are you already curious to read more? 

You could read our career column "Online and offline", where we discuss the shift to online work and presentation settings which we all experienced in 2020 due to the pandemic.

We recommend the books "The Craft of Scientific Presentations" by Michael Alley and "Presentation secrets" by Alexei Kapterev.

Programme PDF (click to download)