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Conference Proposals & Presentations Help Guide

Before Your Presentation – Prepare and Practice  

  • Preparing and practicing your presentation will increase your confidence.  

  • Practice in front of a friend or family member. 

  • Time yourself. 

Plan Ahead  

  • Before presenting, check the room and equipment to avoid last-minute issues.  

  • Familiarize yourself with the stage, lighting, technology, and layout.  

  • Ensure a good night's sleep for better focus and confidence. 

Feel Comfortable on the Day  

  • To feel comfortable on the day, arrive early to check your setup (especially the technology you will use.)  

  • Use physical techniques like deep breathing, smiling, and sipping water to manage stress, and visualize a calm presentation.  

  • When walking to the front, breathe naturally, maintain a steady pace, and take a moment to pause, look at the audience, and smile before you begin speaking. 

 

During Your Presentation 

Manage Your Body Language and Nerves 

  • Ensure the audience can see you and make eye contact.  

  • Avoid hiding behind notes or focusing on your laptop.  

  • Maintain a tall, relaxed posture and move around the stage slightly.  

  • Use gestures to emphasize points but avoid nervous pacing or distracting movements.  

  • Hold notes in one hand and gesture with the other. 

  • Avoid fiddling with objects. 

Speak Clearly and with Enthusiasm  

  • Be aware of microphone limits and control nerves by speaking slightly slower than usual, taking deep breaths, and pausing naturally.  

  • Keep a bottle of water to avoid dry mouth.  

  • Project your voice to the back row and maintain eye contact.  

  • Use varied intonation to keep the audience engaged.  

  • If you make a mistake, stay calm, correct yourself if necessary, and acknowledge major errors with good humor.  

  • Be prepared to answer extra questions after your presentation.  

  • Try to anticipate the questions you might be asked so that you can formulate answers. 

  • It is fine to say that you don’t know the answer and that you will get back to them with the answer. You may need to ask for contact information. 

  • The audience may ask for a copy of the presentation, especially an online version. Have a copy or link close by for those people who ask. 

Think positively! Remember, your audience is interested in your work and will be supportive. They understand the challenges of presenting and are eager to hear your insights. 

References 

7 practical tips for giving an effective conference presentation. (n.d.). ThinkSCIENCE: Expert editing & translation for researchers. https://thinkscience.co.jp/en/articles/conference-presentation-tips 


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