Powerpoint Templates

Though not required, presenters may consider using the templates below to organize their presentations.  While there is no limit to the number of slides you may present during your presentation, please keep your slides simple and follow the tips provided 

• Slide templates in MS Powerpoint

• Slide templates in Adobe PDF

Abstract Template

All presentations are to be accompanied by an abstract for publication in the conference proceedings. The format should follow the template and instructions here:

• Abstract template in Microsoft Word format
• Abstract template in Adobe PDF format

Tips for Preparing Your Presentation

Start strong. In the first few sentences, the audience should know why they need to pay attention. You have a fraction of your allotted minutes to establish credibility.

Tell a story. Whether a talk is one minute long or 20, it should be framed by a basic narrative. Start with a research question and follow up with experimental methods and results: the credibility that you established at the outset will build, and the audience can actually learn something.

Pace yourself. It’s normal to speak quickly when the clock is ticking, but that isn’t the best way to convey complicated scientific concepts. Don’t try to fit in more words per minute; instead, find words and images that really matter.

Keep slides simple. Some lightning speakers try to cram many concepts into each slide, but that’s a mistake. Images should be as economical as words, holding just enough information to make important points without visual overload.

Practice. Don’t follow a script, but you should practice your talk enough to know where you’re going and how long it takes to get there.