How To Give The Perfect Presentation ( Academic Conferences & Keynotes)

Summary

Professor David Stuckler shares his expertise on crafting compelling academic presentations. He emphasizes the importance of Aristotle's persuasion model, incorporating logos (intellectual content), ethos (credibility), and pathos (emotional connection). Stuckler advises starting with a story to engage emotionally, establishing credibility, and then diving into the presentation's core scientific content. He suggests guiding the audience through the talk like a house tour, ensuring a structured progression from questions to methods, results, and future research. Mastering these elements can elevate one's presentation skills, leading to repeated invitations to conferences and keynotes.

Takeaways

• 🎓 **Engage with Pathos**: Start your presentation by connecting emotionally with your audience to open their hearts and minds.
• 🧑‍🏫 **Establish Ethos**: After establishing an emotional connection, convince your audience of your credibility and qualifications.
• 📚 **Deliver Logos**: Once trust and connection are established, present the intellectual content of your talk.
• 🏡 **Use the House Model**: Guide your audience through your presentation like showing them around a house, room by room.
• 🌱 **Prepare the Soil**: Just as a seed needs prepared soil to grow, your audience needs to be prepared to receive your message.
• 📈 **Structure Your Talk**: Have a clear outline for your presentation to ensure a logical flow of ideas.
• 📝 **Tell a Story**: Use narratives to make your data relatable and to capture your audience's attention.
• 🔄 **Return to the Beginning**: End your presentation by circling back to the emotional connection made at the start.
• 🌟 **Pepper with Anecdotes**: Use personal stories or anecdotes to demonstrate your ethos and to highlight the importance of your findings.
• 🌐 **Transform Your Skills**: Mastering these elements can elevate your presentations to a level that garners international recognition and invitations.

Q & A

What is the main goal of an academic presentation according to Professor David Stuckler?

The main goal of an academic presentation is not only to persuade the audience but also to leave a lasting impression that is impactful enough to knock their socks off.

How many keynotes has Professor David Stuckler given at international conferences?

Professor David Stuckler has given over 50 keynotes at international conferences.

What are the three elements of Aristotle's model of persuasion mentioned by Professor Stuckler?

The three elements of Aristotle's model of persuasion are logos, ethos, and pathos.

What does 'logos' represent in the context of an academic presentation?

In the context of an academic presentation, 'logos' represents the intellectual side or the content of the talk, which is what the presenter is trying to deliver.

Why is it important to connect emotionally with the audience before presenting the 'logos'?

It is important to connect emotionally with the audience before presenting the 'logos' because until the audience's hearts and minds are open, they will not be ready to listen to the intellectual content of the talk.

What does 'pathos' refer to in the context of a presentation?

'Pathos' refers to reaching the audience emotionally and connecting with them on a human level, which helps to open them up to receive the message.

How can a presenter establish their credibility or 'ethos' during a presentation?

A presenter can establish their 'ethos' by introducing who they are, their qualifications, and why they are the right person to deliver the message about the topic.

What is the house model of presentation mentioned by Professor Stuckler?

The house model of presentation is a metaphor where the presenter is inviting the audience into their house (the presentation), guiding them through each room (different parts of the talk), and then leading them back out with a clear understanding of the content.

Why is it suggested to start a presentation with a story?

Starting a presentation with a story is suggested because humans respond well to narratives, and it helps to emotionally connect with the audience and present the front door to the information that will be discussed.

What should be the structure of a scientific talk according to the house model?

The structure of a scientific talk should ideally progress through a sequence of points that build up to the conclusion, similar to guiding someone through different rooms of a house, covering the big questions, methods, results, and future research.

How can anecdotes be used effectively in a presentation?

Anecdotes can be used effectively in a presentation to pepper the talk with elements of ethos and pathos, showing the presenter's profile or emphasizing the importance of the research, especially towards the end of the results and future research sections.

What is the benefit of mastering the elements of logos, ethos, and pathos in a presentation?

Mastering the elements of logos, ethos, and pathos in a presentation can transform one's presentation skills, leading to more invitations to speak, helping to win research funding, and gaining more attention in the academic field.