4. How to Present Your Poster and Practicing Your Presentation

HMS DICP
11 Jan 202109:36
EducationalLearning
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TLDRPresenting a scientific poster involves thorough practice, understanding your poster's content, and engaging with your audience. Start by practicing with your team and getting feedback from your PI. Memorize key points for your introduction and adapt your presentation based on audience interest. Highlight the main methods and results, and clearly explain the implications of your research. Personalize your presentation with stories to connect with your audience. Finally, thank attendees, share contact information, and be open to further communication. These steps will help you effectively deliver a compelling and interactive poster presentation.

Takeaways
  • 🎬 Practice is crucial: Ensure the poster and your presentation support each other.
  • πŸ“ Write a script initially, but aim to present without it for better audience engagement.
  • πŸ‘₯ Practice with your team to get feedback on what to emphasize and potential questions.
  • πŸ‘©β€πŸ”¬ Interact with your PI to understand their goals and key points to highlight.
  • 🀝 Engage with your audience by greeting them and understanding their interest in your poster.
  • πŸ“œ Memorize your introduction: state the problem, why it's important, your methods, and results.
  • πŸ” Tailor your presentation based on the audience's interest and background.
  • βš–οΈ Balance detail in the methods section: enough to understand but not overwhelming.
  • πŸ“Š Focus on key results that support your conclusions.
  • πŸš€ Highlight future directions and implications of your research in the conclusion.
  • πŸ“– Share personal stories to connect with the audience and make the presentation more engaging.
  • πŸ™ Thank your audience, offer additional information, and connect digitally for follow-up.
Q & A
  • Why is practice important when presenting a poster?

    -Practice is crucial for ensuring that the content of the poster aligns with the presenter's message and vice versa. It also allows for adjustments to the poster and helps the presenter become familiar with the material, facilitating a more natural and interactive presentation.

  • Is it acceptable to use a script during a poster presentation?

    -While it is okay to use a script, especially for the first few presentations, the presenter is encouraged not to rely on it. The goal is to interact with the audience, which requires being able to engage spontaneously.

  • Why should one practice with their team before presenting a poster?

    -Practicing with the team is beneficial because team members are familiar with the research details. They can provide feedback on what to emphasize or clarify, ensuring the presenter is well-prepared for potential questions and discussions.

  • What is the significance of practicing with a Principal Investigator (PI) before a presentation?

    -Practicing with a PI is important as they can provide guidance on key points to highlight and help the presenter navigate the scientific community. Understanding the PI's goals can also strengthen the presenter's connection with them.

  • How should one greet an audience member who approaches their poster?

    -One should greet the audience member warmly, introduce themselves, and find out a bit about the person, such as why they are interested in the poster. This helps tailor the presentation to the audience's interests and needs.

  • What is the recommended approach for memorizing the introduction of a poster presentation?

    -It is suggested to memorize the first three to four sentences of the introduction, which should succinctly cover the problem being addressed, the approach taken, the results obtained, and any key conclusions.

  • How can body language help in determining the audience's interest level during a poster presentation?

    -Body language can indicate an audience member's level of interest and engagement. If they appear eager and interested, the presenter can adjust the depth and pace of the presentation accordingly.

  • Why is it important to discuss the limitations of a study during the methods section of a poster presentation?

    -Discussing limitations upfront can prevent them from becoming a roadblock in the presentation. It allows the audience to understand the context of the study and can turn limitations into discussion points rather than credibility issues.

  • What should be the focus when presenting the results section of a poster?

    -The focus should be on the key results that support the conclusions being discussed. While the range of work done is important, for a poster presentation, it's crucial to concentrate on the results that directly relate to the main findings.

  • How does the conclusion section of a poster presentation differ from other formats?

    -In a poster presentation, the conclusion section should not only state the conclusions drawn from the results but also help the audience understand the implications for the field and where the research is headed.

  • Why is it beneficial to share personal stories during a poster presentation?

    -Sharing personal stories makes the presenter more relatable and helps the audience connect on a personal level. This connection can lead to valuable insights, advice, and networking opportunities.

  • What are some ways to maintain contact with audience members after a poster presentation?

    -Providing scannable links on the poster for additional information, sharing LinkedIn information, and offering to send further materials are all effective ways to stay connected and facilitate ongoing communication.

Outlines
00:00
πŸ—£οΈ Importance of Practicing Your Poster Presentation

The speaker emphasizes the importance of practice in presenting a scientific poster. Practicing helps to ensure that the poster supports the intended message and vice versa. While scripting can be useful initially, it's important to engage with the audience rather than rely on a script. Practicing with your team and getting feedback from your principal investigator (PI) is crucial. Understanding your PI's goals can guide your presentation and help you navigate the scientific community. The speaker shares a personal anecdote about a first public scientific presentation, highlighting the role of practice and support.

05:00
🎀 Engaging Your Audience and Delivering Your Presentation

The speaker discusses how to effectively deliver a poster presentation. Start by meeting your audience, understanding their background and interest in your poster. Begin with a brief, memorized introduction covering the problem, the method, the result, and the significance. Tailor your presentation based on the audience's interest and engagement. Practice delivering both a detailed and a brief version of your presentation. The methods section should be concise but detailed enough to support your results, and it's helpful to address study limitations early on. Focus on key results that support your conclusions.

πŸ” Highlighting Key Results and Crafting Your Conclusion

The speaker advises on highlighting key results and crafting the conclusion section of a poster presentation. Emphasize results that support your main conclusions and be prepared to discuss additional details if the audience is interested. The conclusion should not only summarize your findings but also highlight the implications for the field and future research directions. It's important to connect all sections of the poster to form a cohesive narrative from problem to conclusion.

🀝 Personal Stories and Audience Engagement

The speaker highlights the importance of using personal stories to make your presentation more engaging and relatable. Sharing how you got into the research and what excites you about it can help the audience connect with you. Personal connections can lead to valuable insights and networking opportunities. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of gratitude and follow-up, suggesting the use of digital tools like LinkedIn and scannable links on the poster to stay in touch with interested attendees. Thanking the audience and offering to share additional information can enhance the overall presentation experience.

Mindmap
Keywords
πŸ’‘Practice
Practice is the act of rehearsing or performing an activity repeatedly to improve performance. In the context of the video, practice is essential for perfecting the presentation of a scientific poster. The script emphasizes the importance of practicing to ensure that the poster content and the presenter's message are well-aligned. For example, the speaker mentions that 'When you practice, you then get to take a look at your poster and see if what you wanna say is supported by the poster and vice versa.'
πŸ’‘Script
A script is a written text that serves as a guide for what to say during a presentation. In the video, the speaker advises against relying solely on a script, especially for a scientific poster presentation, which is meant to be interactive. The script within the video is mentioned as a tool for beginners but encourages moving beyond it for more natural interaction, as stated: 'It is okay to write a script, especially the first few times that you present a poster, but I do encourage you to not rely on a script.'
πŸ’‘Interact
Interact refers to the process of communicating or cooperating with others. The video stresses the importance of engaging with the audience during a poster presentation. The speaker suggests that being able to interact is crucial for a successful presentation, as it allows for a dynamic exchange of ideas and questions, illustrated by the phrase 'The whole idea of a scientific poster presentation is that you interact with the audience.'
πŸ’‘Team
In the context of the video, a team refers to the group of individuals who are involved in the research and are familiar with its details. The speaker recommends practicing with the team first, as they can provide valuable feedback on what to emphasize or clarify in the presentation. For instance, the script includes 'I do recommend that you practice with your team first, your team knows the details of the research.'
πŸ’‘PI (Principal Investigator)
A Principal Investigator (PI) is the head of a research project or laboratory. The video mentions the importance of practicing with the PI, who can provide guidance on key points to highlight during the presentation. The PI's goals and insights are vital for navigating the scientific community, as indicated by 'And really understanding his goals, or her goals is really a good way, for you to not just bond, but to help be guided through your first, or maybe your 10th poster presentation.'
πŸ’‘Networking
Networking is the process of building and maintaining professional relationships. The video identifies scientific poster presentations as opportunities for networking within the scientific community. The speaker highlights that beyond presenting research, the goal is to connect with others in the field, as expressed in 'But scientific poster presentation really, at the end of the day is about networking, with the scientific community.'
πŸ’‘Introduction
An introduction is the initial part of a presentation that sets the stage for what will follow. In the context of the video, the speaker advises memorizing the starting sentences to clearly state the problem, methodology, results, and conclusion of the research. The introduction serves as the first point of engagement with the audience, as mentioned in 'Now, this is really the starting point. This is one place, where I just recommend you memorize your starting, three, four sentences.'
πŸ’‘Methods
Methods refer to the procedures or processes used in conducting research. The video discusses the importance of explaining the methods in a poster presentation without going into excessive detail. The speaker suggests being clear about the study's limitations during this section, as in 'This is the section where you practice. Understand the key points. And I'm a fan of saying, what is the limitation of your study right at the methods, and right up front?'
πŸ’‘Results
Results are the outcomes or findings of a study. The video emphasizes focusing on the results that support the conclusions being presented, rather than an exhaustive list of all work done. The speaker points out that during a poster presentation, it's crucial to edit oneself to concentrate on the key results, as stated in 'What really is important is what are the results that are going to support your conclusion that you want to talk about today?'
πŸ’‘Conclusion
A conclusion is the final part of a presentation that summarizes the findings and their implications. The video describes the conclusion section of a poster as an opportunity to discuss future directions and the broader impact of the research. The speaker encourages helping the audience understand the research's implications, as in 'I really think the conclusion section is about where you're going. So yes, given the results, this is your conclusion, but help your audience understand what the implications for the field are.'
πŸ’‘Personal Stories
Personal stories are narratives about an individual's experiences or motivations. The video suggests using personal stories to make a presentation more relatable and engaging. The speaker believes that sharing one's journey into the research area can help the audience connect on a personal level, as illustrated by 'Remember to use your personal stories. Talk about how you got into the lab, why did you start this research area? What gets you excited about it?'
Highlights

Presenting your poster is all about practice.

The poster should support what you want to say and vice versa.

It is okay to write a script, especially for the first few times presenting a poster.

Encouraged not to rely on a script for scientific poster presentation.

The idea is to interact with the audience during the presentation.

Practice with your team first as they know the details of the research.

Peer mentors can help by sitting with you while you practice.

Having practice with your PI is important for understanding key points to highlight.

Your PI can help you navigate the scientific community.

Scientific poster presentation is about networking with the scientific community.

Meet your audience by greeting them and understanding their interest in your poster.

Memorize the starting three to four sentences of your introduction.

Tailor your presentation based on the audience's interest and engagement.

The methods section should be clear but not too detailed to hinder understanding of results.

Discuss the limitations of your study upfront in the methods section.

Focus on results that support your conclusion in the poster presentation.

The conclusion section should help the audience understand the implications for the field.

Use personal stories to make your presentation personable and connect with the audience.

Share your research experience with the audience to make the presentation more engaging.

Thank the audience for coming to your poster and exchanging information.

Provide scannable links on the poster for additional information and maintain contact digitally.

Encourage sharing and communication after the presentation.

Transcripts
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