Instructions for presentations

Participants are requested to upload their presentation before the start of their parallel session. Due to the amount of presentations and time constraints, it will not be possible to connect your laptop.

Presentations will be deleted from the laptops after the end of the session. Presentations can be shown using the latest versions of PowerPoint and Adobe Reader running on Microsoft Windows computer or laptop. The screen and beamer aspect ratio of the presentation is 16:9. It is recommended to provide the presentation as a PDF to ensure a smooth running presentation.

Tips to help you prepare your talk:

1. Know your audience

Provide a proper introduction to your research subject. As the parallel sessions at the conference will be programmed around broader (e.g. interdisciplinary) themes, part of your audience might be unfamiliar with the specifics of your field and methodology. Rehearse the talk, preferably with an audience that contains a person working in a different research field.

2. Focus

Keep the total amount of information in your talk limited and focused. An audience can cope with only a few new results and topics. Even if you have achieved several important breakthroughs, do not be tempted to include everything in one talk. In other words, make sure that your talk conveys a clear ‘take-home message’. Also, try to keep the amount of information per slide limited.

3. Keep your talk on time

It is requested to stay within the allotted time (15 minutes), including 3-5 minutes for questions and discussion. You can achieve this by limiting the total amount of slides. As a rule of thumb, allow for one to two minutes per slide. Put at least as much effort into the verbal explanation as the visual presentation of your presentation.

4. Think about your data presentation

Pay special attention to figures and diagrams. Never forget to explain what is on the axes (physical quantity, dimensions) or assume that the audience is familiar with diagrams that might be standard for researchers in your niche. Avoid complexity and take note that your audience might need some time to absorb and appreciate a figure.

5. Some additional tips

Ever wondered if the audience in the back of the room can read the text on your slides? Here is a tip: print a slide on an A4 sheet of paper and place it near your feet on the floor. If you cannot properly read the text on the slide whilst standing up, use a larger font size. Also, make your presentation standalone: if you include videos, test the internal linking such that it works on any laptop.