Giving scientific presentations is a vital skill for sharing research and gaining visibility in the wider scientific community. The ability to present clearly and confidently can greatly support career development, whether PhD students pursue academic research, move into industry, or start their own ventures.
Yet many presentations fail to engage their audience, often due to common pitfalls such as overly complex content, lack of structure, monotonous delivery, or a mismatch between the speaker’s focus and the audience’s interests.
This online course provides a theoretical foundation for creating effective scientific presentations. It is designed to help learners understand what makes a presentation impactful, how to tailor content to different audiences (scientific peers, potential funders, media, or the public), and how to structure and design their talk for maximum clarity and engagement.
The course focuses on two key aspects: what to present (content strategy) and how to present it (communication style and delivery theory). Although practical application is not included in this module, learners will gain actionable insights that will prepare them to put these principles into practice.
Participants interested in applying these skills in a live setting are encouraged to join a follow-up course, which will provide opportunities for peer feedback, self-reflection, and presentation practice in a supportive environment.