How to Deliver a Sensational Scientific Talk

Abstract

Samuel Johnson notwithstanding, talks are an indispensable part of professional life. This chapter provides guidelines on preparing and giving an effective presentation of a scientific paper. Readers will undoubtedly recall hearing many talks whose impacts were severely compromised by the lack of organization and ineffective style of presentation. Preparing a scientific paper for presentation is very different from writing a paper for publication; the public speaker must offer more to the audience than they can glean from reading a manuscript. The presentation must be entertaining, as well as cogent and well-paced, in order to get across to the audience a discussion of a study or topic in the most effective way.

“Lectures were once necessary, but now when all can read, and books are numerous, lectures are unnecessary.”

—Samuel Johnson