This is the second of a two-part series on effective scientific presentations. Part 1 covered the planning stages.
A primer for slide design.
Building a solid, consistent visual style may take effort up front, especially when you are starting, but it is a worthwhile investment. Once established, these elements can be reused and adapted for future presentations, helping you work more efficiently and maintain a cohesive look.
- Streamline the process with ready-made resources. The newly designed WashU-branded PowerPoint templates save you time on stylistic details, allowing you to focus on content. In addition,WashU’s institutional subscription includes full access to PowerPoint 365, featuring a wealth of built-in tools such as accessible templates and a library of vector-based icons, illustrations, and high-resolution pictures. If using visuals from specialized sources — such as NIH BioArt, the Knowable Magazine Science Graphics Library, and the NEJM Illustrated Glossary — always check licensing terms and attribute properly. To learn more about responsible image use, consult the Becker Library Finding Images subject guide.
- Make your content accessible. Keep text minimal and easy to read. Avoid fonts smaller than 20 points — especially for presentations in large rooms or on shared screens — and choose colors that stand out against the background. Likewise, figures should be clear, and contrast applies here too: ensure that labels, axes, and data points are distinguishable. The WashU color palette offers high-contrast color combinations that comply with the accessibility standards for people with low vision or limited color perception.
- Ditch the pointer — use animations. Laser pointers are often more distracting than helpful; instead, design your slides so they guide attention without one. Simple animations, like fade-ins, fade-outs, and sequential reveals, can help control the narrative flow, making your presentation more dynamic and easier to follow. For dense figures or tables, such as those reused from publications, consider breaking them into parts and introducing elements as you speak, graying out less relevant data to highlight key points, or applying contrast to emphasize a specific result or conclusion.
Presentation day.
You have shaped your message, designed your slides, and thought carefully about how to guide your audience through the material. Now, you are stepping into the final stage: communicating your research in a way that connects, informs, and invites reflection.
- Come ready — and be prepared. Rehearsing helps you refine timing and fluency, not to deliver a flawless performance, but to feel grounded and confident. Practice on your own or with others: there is no universal formula, so choose what works best for you. And prepare for imperfection: remember it’s okay to stumble, mispronounce, or forget details. Give yourself grace.
- Set the stage. Start by thanking your host, greeting your audience, and expressing appreciation for their time. If you welcome interruptions or prefer to keep questions until the end, say so clearly at the beginning. Before diving into your content, consider acknowledging the people who made meaningful contributions to the work you are about to present — rather than squeezing them into a rushed slide at the end, crowded with names and logos. This small shift goes a long way in showing that you value their effort.
- Navigate the room. Technical glitches, late arrivals, or enthusiastic audience members may disrupt your flow. If someone jumps in mid-slide, gently redirect them to the Q&A. Sometimes, a question catches you off guard. If you know the answer but struggle to articulate it in the moment, consider offering a brief reply and suggest continuing the conversation later. This will keep the dialogue open without derailing your presentation.
Presentations are not just a means to transfer knowledge, but a way to connect. There is no need to include every detail, every data point, or every problem you faced. Instead, share your work in a way that is authentic, engaging, and accessible: remember that the audience is part of the equation.