Science Communication for Scientists: A Professional Development Opportunity

Presenting slides to an audience

Facilitated by David Rubenson, Scientific Presentation Coach; Former Administrator, Stanford, UCLA, RAND Corporation

Tuesday, April 11
Scientific Presentation Workshop
“No Bad Slides: Developing Clear and Effective Scientific Presentations”
2:00 – 3:00 PM
MEIGS ROOM, SWOPE
Open to All

Scientific research can be highly specialized, complex, and difficult to explain. These challenges are reflected in the many scientific presentations that are confusing and opaque. There are too many slides, too much detail, and too many complex graphics. Speakers frequently use specialized terms and acronyms that are confusing to even other scientists. Rapid talking and slide flipping seems to be a preferred (and ineffective) method for dealing with unexpected time crunches.

This talk will provide specific recommendations for streamlining scientific presentations while retaining essential content. The recommendations will be relevant for presentations to both scientific and lay audiences. It will include recommendations for organizing presentations, designing individual slides, and maximizing the effectiveness of the accompanying oral presentation.  It will address the challenge of communicating with an audience that contains listeners with varying levels of relevant expertise (multi-disciplinary audiences).  

Wednesday, April 12
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM or 1:00 – 4:00 PM (choose one)
CANDLE HOUSE 104/105
(limited to 8 participants per workshop - first-come, first-served, registration required)

This three-hour workshop will build on concepts introduced in the April 11 seminar and will feature a series of interactive exercises and personalized training aimed at illuminating key presentation issues such as: the attributes and limitations of slide presentations, structuring presentations for multi-disciplinary audiences, “lean” slide design, creating a communication synergy between the spoken word and visuals, and managing time crunches without speaking faster and rapid slide flipping.

Attendees will derive maximum benefits from the workshop if they are currently developing a presentation or have a presentation they wish to improve.  Attendees are expected to be active participants, both in presenting material to the group and critiquing others.  They should expect to dedicate approximately one hour of preparation time prior to the workshop (details to follow).  Participants should bring laptops and memory sticks to the workshop.

All workshop participants will be eligible to receive individualized, remote coaching with David Rubenson following the in-person workshop.

About David Rubenson

David Rubenson has been a scientific presentation coach since 2017 and maintains a website (nobadslides.com) with “tips” and articles for helping scientists develop effective presentations.  He has coached scientists in presentation techniques while serving as the Associate Director for Administration and Planning at the Stanford University Cancer Institute (2009-2016), Director of Special Projects at City of Hope Cancer Center (2001-2008), and as a strategic planning consultant to the UCLA Brain Research Institute (1998-2001). His formal training in communication techniques comes from 20 years as an analyst at the RAND Corporation where he developed hundreds of presentations for scientists, engineers, government officials, and lay audiences.

Sponsored by the Byron H. Waksman Fund for Excellence in Science Communications