Presenting your research online

I’ve attended various webinars and Zoom meetings this year but have yet to deliver a presentation on my research. I am pretty sure I will have to do this at some stage and so I spoke to some of the HDR students who have recently participated in virtual conferences, defended their thesis to a panel, or were interviewed about their research. I personally tend to speak very fast when I am nervous, and skip explaining crucial points adequately, which then gets me even more nervous. The pressure of a time limit also doesn’t help with nerves. I asked for strategies on speaking slower during presentations. Below are some of the practical advice I received and used at a recent live panel session event.

• Prepare. Organise an outline and list down essential bullet points for each slide. Practice and if you find yourself going over the time limit, review and delete some of your bullet points and/or slides.
• Mindset. Remember that you are giving them the abstract and not your full paper. You are the connoisseur and fully know every flavour but your audience only needs a taste at this stage to be able to digest this new dish you are introducing. Also, believe in your work – feeling confident lessens the need to race through all your slides and allows you to take your time in explaining important points.
• Resources. Have a glass of water close by and take opportunities to pause when you are taking a sip of water. Being aware of your breathing helps also. Paying attention to your breathing helps you slow down. At the very least, make sure to pause and take a breath after each slide. Remember that pauses are especially important when delivering a presentation virtually or online.

It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.

Mark Twain