Guidelines for Presenters

Electronic presentations

A Mac laptop computer and projector, and remote control/laser pointer will be available for PowerPoint presentations. Bring your material on a memory stick. The A/V support tech for the meeting will help you load and test your presentation as soon as possible, no later than the break before the morning or the afternoon session when you are scheduled. Plan to click through your slides to make sure that all information, symbols, fonts, and transitions display as intended.

If you have special needs for your presentation such as audio, video, live internet (YouTube, a web app demo, etc.), have highly complex animations, or need software other than PowerPoint or Adobe Reader, please contact the A/V support tech in advance. Be prepared in case these special needs cannot be accommodated.

Minimize or avoid the use of transitions and animations in your presentation. We also encourage you to save a second copy of your presentation in PDF format. If all the information is visible in the PDF, this can be used for a smoother, more accurate display of your slides, or as a backup.

The A/V support tech for the 2019 Wakefield meeting is Dave Partee, Alaska Sea Grant, dave.partee@alaska.edu.

Tips and tricks for a good visual presentation

ProjectionNet Presentation Style Guide
Scientifically Speaking (Oceanography Society)

Oral presentations Poster presentations

Oral presentations

Arrive at the meeting room before the session begins and contact the session chair for last-minute instructions or changes in schedule.

Rehearse your talk before the meeting and be certain that you do not exceed the allotted time.

Speak slowly and audibly and adjust the microphone for your use. Allow time for questions and answers after each talk.

Clearly state your objectives. Conclusions should relate back to them.

Avoid unnecessary detail in the methods. Primarily discuss results and conclusions (unless methodology is the central topic of your study).

A cordless slide advancer with built-in laser pointer will be provided. Use the pointer to refer to items on the screen. If you try to point with a finger, you will obstruct the view and get too far from the microphone to be heard. Be sure to advance slides by pointing at the laptop.

Poster presentations

Poster session

Presenters are requested to be available for questions during the poster session.
Direct format and display questions to Jesse Coleman jmcoleman2@alaska.edu.

Poster size and display

Create your poster to measure 48" by 48" (122 cm).
Posters will be displayed on portable upright boards and walls.
Presenters are required to put up and take town their own poster.
We will provide tacks, push pins, and tape, at the symposium registration desk.

Poster format

Poster headings should include a title, author's name, and affiliation.
All text must be in English.

Poster hints

Keep it simple by limiting yourself to a single problem or hypothesis.
Convert tables to figures if possible.
Minimize text and avoid large blocks of text.
Text lettering should be at least 14 points so it can be legible at 4 feet.
For readability, use a sans serif font; Arial, Helvetica, or Univers work well.
Most presenters bring their posters printed on one large piece of paper (48" by 48", 122 cm); it can be laminated or not. It is easy to transport if it is rolled in a tube.
For hints on graphics, and posters in general, please see Scientifically Speaking (Oceanography Society).