Hey, just @samsighs.bsky.social checking in!

The BIG Event 2026 is still open for bookings and we'd love to see you there!

Time to grab a ticket?

www.big.uk.com/BIGEvent2026

“I just let the data speak for itself”

Risky!

Different audiences will take away different meanings from the same data. The audience hasn’t got the time to consider all the nuances - cut to the chase and tell them the meaning they should take away.

#Academia #PHDChat #Research #Presentations

Matt and Duncan in the sun in front of Edinburgh Castle

Mostly a quiet week for us what with the Easter break - but we did manage an in person team meeting!

Treat your presentation content as modular.

Every time you have a new talk, you can move some building blocks of content over. Old blocks are rearranged, and maybe new ones are swapped in.

When you repeat blocks, you learn them, so you're have a head start in being prepared next time!

#Research

Ok I'm bored and want to procrastinate work so let's do a thread instead. Wanna hear a story?

Alright then, story it is. So gather around, children, because now we're going to talk about the most important science book you've probably never heard of.

Ready? Off we go, then.

Microphones Do I really need a microphone?

Yes! You might think you have a booming voice, but It's not about you & folks at the back may be struggling with the echo, or the hum of the air con, or using a hearing aid & induction loop.

If its provided, use the mic.

#Academia #PHDChat #Presentations

Communication is like a game of catch.

You need someone to throw the ball and someone willing and able to catch it - it's a two-way thing. You can throw all you like, but if the audience isn't engaged and ready to catch the ball, then you're just playing by yourself*

*and this isn't the place

Setting up a conflict structure is great whenever you need to compare two things, call people to action, or persuade.

It highlights the differences between the two situations, or outcomes.

The audience invests in how will this resolve, will one side win?

Looking through one of the four windows of the Orion spacecraft, a tiny crescent Earth is illuminated against the blackness of space and grows smaller as the crew journeys closer to the Moon. Part of the window edge is visible; the rest is darkness. [Alt-text slightly revised from ESA/NASA version]

We are so, so small. #Artemis

Data tips...

Do slow down; complex info needs to be taken slowly.

Do spend time setting the context of the data before showing the graph.

Do connect the data to the MEANING - this is crucial; data on its own tells me nothing of value.

Tech Advice

Always remember to carry your talk on a memory stick, in case the tech options in the room are limited.

Sometimes the cables are broken, or there is no wifi, or your laptop dies etc - have a back up.

#Academia #PHDChat #Research #Presentations

Don’t apologise!

This is something I see a lot

folk apologise for how bad they are at public speaking, or for how boring their content is going to be.

or make some apology adjacent comment like “Time for the dull bit” or “I won’t go on too long”

It's #TransDayOfVisibility! Feels weird to post about it this year considering how visible I've had to become to drive my fundraising.

Being visible is a mixture of joy and absolute terror but, more than anything else, it's necessary for me right now 🏳️‍⚧️

Top presentation tip

To engage well humans need a bit of variety. We just cannon focus on something that stays the same for a long time.

For long presentations break them up with activities, polls, videos or anything that lets the audience focus on something else.

*Storytelling*

Storytelling is powerful. Its our oldest form of communication. Arguably, there have been stories as long as there have been humans. If you package your research comms as storytelling, you get a more engaged audience that wants to listen and will remember your key message

#PHDChat

Little reminder that a lightning talk of 3 or 5 mins is not the same as your 20 min talk you did last month.

Don't think of it as cutting down a longer set, think of it as its own thing build it from the ground up around the 1 point you want to make.

#PHD #AcademicTalks #Conferences

“But that’s the way talks have always been done!” – academia has a huge status quo bias, change is slow.

Embrace your rebellious side and go do your talks differently! Audiences get bored, so novelty is a big asset. And by doing it YOUR WAY, it’ll be more honest, authentic, and genuine.

#PHDChat

*Am I allowed?*

- is a phrase we hear a lot from researchers.

We often assume we need permission.

Permission to be interesting, to be different, to be ourselves.

But know this: only you can give yourself permission, many of the things that feel like 'rules' aren't.

#Academia #PHDChat

Supporting the new Harry Potter series means putting money in JK Rowling’s pockets which she then uses to harm trans people. There is no ethical consumption of her shitty writing.

😂 it's still a joke even if no one laughs! Especially if you then tell them it was a joke

Storytelling is not always effective

Remember, the goal is to get your audience to listen to what you're saying and understand it.

If storytelling isn't going to help with that, abandon ship!

Here are some bad bits of commonly given presentation advice to avoid

- make eye contact
- Just tell stories
- Start with a Joke
- Be yourself
- Use your slides as handouts
- More visuals!
- Memorize everything
- Dress more formally than your audience

#Presentation #Academic

Lots of people thing presentation is 1 thing. I’ll do this one workshop which will cover it all.

Its not. There are SO MANY tools you can use and need to use to do it well;

Storytelling
Body language & deliver
Preparation techniques
Slide design
Interactivity
Q&A
Structure

Ahhh I think the new one is May. If you've not tried the audio it's well worth it.

Presenting to small audiences

If there’s 6 people or less, then you have a very intimate setting.

Full on PPT to 5 or 6 people gets a bit awkward.

So instead, make it a conversation or discussion. Don't be afraid to throw out your plan if the context changes.


#Academia #PHDChat

Curve ball genre here if you're not a fantasy/gamer person. But dungeon crawler Carl is one of the best read and produced things I've ever listened to. I'm constantly listening to audiobooks at it's brilliant.

Want to engage industry in your research?

Maybe for collaboration or commercialization. Go to industry events, network, talk to people, or better yet get speaking slots at those events!

You can show off your work to 200 potential partners in depth, just by doing 1 presentation.

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thoughtful-motivator...
5/5

Tell a micro story. - Paint a picture

"The year is 1846 and Jeremy has just invented material science"

"Picture a plastic free world"

"Amas was scared, it was her first day at school"



4/5

Use a bold statement to elicit surprise & curiosity.

“this is going to be the best talk about spreadsheets you’ve ever heard"

"We already have all the antibiotics we're ever going to need"

"I've never been so stressed in my life"


3/5