Tell me a story! A plea for more compelling conference presentations
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Abstract
Effective communication with other scientists is an essential component of the scientific process, underlying success in publishing papers, building collaborations, securing grants and jobs, and stimulating further research. Oral presentations at professional meetings provide an opportunity to share research findings with a relatively broad scientific audience. However, many scientists give talks that are crowded with methods and data, accompanied by poor visuals, and, most unfortunately, lacking in narrative arc. Here, I provide strategies for distilling research findings into a short-format talk, capturing the audience's attention, and delivering a compelling and visually engaging story. I argue that the material should be designed to interest a wide range of meeting attendees, not just experts in a narrow field. I also advocate principles of good storytelling, with the aim of leading the audience through a compelling journey of discovery that concludes with a memorable takeaway message.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Tell me a story! A plea for more compelling conference presentations |
| Series title | The Condor: Ornithological Applications |
| DOI | 10.1650/CONDOR-16-209.1 |
| Volume | 119 |
| Year Published | 2017 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Oxford Academic |
| Contributing office(s) | Fort Collins Science Center |
| Description | 6 p. |
| First page | 321 |
| Last page | 326 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |