It is now widely recognized that professional presentation skills are an indispensable cornerstone of a successful scientific career. This updated second edition provides a concise and accessible guide to preparing and delivering scientific presentations. Its highly practical 'how-to' style focuses on the issues that are of immediate concern to the busy scientist. The text covers all of the important aspects of scientific presentations, including knowing your audience, producing visual material, controlling nerves and handling questions. It also includes advice on presenting in English for non-native speakers, helping them to improve the clarity and effectiveness of their presentations. Links are included throughout the text to the accompanying website, which contains annotated video clips of speakers delivering a talk and demonstrates the common problems encountered, as well as exercises designed to overcome them. It also contains image files to demonstrate the design issues to consider when creating visual material.
1. Audience
2. Planning the talk
3. Selection and assembly of visual material
4. Controlling nerves
5. Voice
6. Delivery
7. Science and the English language
8. Handling questions
9. How did it go?
Edward Zanders is Managing Director of ScienceInform Ltd, a training company for people involved with the research-based pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Lindsay MacLeod is a highly experienced London tourist guide and she has taught presentation skills to London Blue Badge guides for sixteen years.