CPET Seminar: The Art of Scientific Presentations
Abstract: One's capability to make clear, concise, interesting, and in some cases inspiring presentations to a wide variety of audiences is of considerable (and increasing) importance in scientific and engineering careers. These audiences are often friendly, in the sense that they are anxious to hear what you have to say (for example, when you present an invited paper at a scientific or technical conference). However, audiences are sometimes neutral (for example, when you present a contributed paper at a scientific or technical conference, or when you present a research seminar during a job search), or even a bit negative or adversarial (for example, when you present research proposals to qualifying examination committees, research grant review committees, or funding agencies). This seminar is focused on the key elements of highly successful scientific presentations, on the optimal design of visual aids, and on important presentation tips that can allow excellent results to be both understood and appreciated.