Scientific presentation format

Start by defining the message

When planning a scientific presentation, first identify the research question and the main message you want the audience to remember at the end. Then connect the methods, findings, and conclusion to that question. The goal is not to transfer every detail of the paper onto slides, but to explain the logic of the study in a clear sequence.

The University of Illinois guidelines describe a scientific presentation as a condensed scientific narrative with a strong central message; they recommend shorter treatment of methods and greater emphasis on results. This is an adaptable approach, not a template that must be applied exactly to every study. University of Illinois: Oral presentation guidelines

Clarify the essentials before outlining

Before planning the presentation, gather the information you have:

• The research question and, if applicable, the hypothesis or prediction.
• The information needed about the study design, sample or material examined, measurements, and analysis.
• The actual findings and the figures and tables that support them.
• The presentation’s duration, audience, and any required format or headings specified by the event.

Do not fill in missing results by guessing. If the study is not yet complete, label a prediction clearly as a prediction rather than presenting it as an observed finding. Since duration and format requirements vary from event to event, check the relevant event guidelines.

How should you organize the sections?

The outline below is a starting point. You can combine headings or change the order to suit the nature of the study and the presentation requirements.

1. Title and topic: The study title, presenter, and institution. The title should clearly state the study’s topic.
2. Background and context: Explain why the topic is being addressed and how it relates to previous work, to the extent needed to understand the question.
3. Research question and hypothesis/prediction: State the question clearly. If you use a hypothesis or prediction, specify what will be tested.
4. Methods: Provide the design, materials, measurements, and analysis details needed to interpret the findings. If the design is complex, consider using a diagram.
5. Findings: Present the main results with clear figures or tables. First explain what the visual shows, then describe the main pattern.
6. Discussion and limitations: Interpret how the findings relate to the research question; state the scope of the inference and any important limitations.
7. Conclusion and contribution: Summarize the answer to the question to the extent supported by the evidence. Briefly add the study’s contribution or an appropriate next step.
8. References and contributions: Present references and contribution information in the format specified by the event or institution.

The example framework in the University of Illinois guidelines covers background, question, hypothesis/prediction, methods, results, discussion, and implications. The guidelines also address presenting figures, tables, and statistics; adapt this to your study’s needs. Review the guidelines.

Fictional example: an irrigation-pattern study

This example is entirely fictional; it does not report a real research result. Suppose a team is examining the relationship between two irrigation patterns and measured growth in potted plants. The presentation outline could be structured as follows:

• Slide 1 — Title: “Irrigation patterns and plant growth: a pot study”. Team and institution information.
• Slide 2 — Context: The topic addressed by the study and the specific question it seeks to answer.
• Slide 3 — Question and prediction: “Does the measured growth indicator differ between the two irrigation patterns?” If there is a prediction, state it in measurable terms.
• Slide 4 — Design and measurement: Groups, treatment duration, measurement method, and comparison; include a diagram if needed.
• Slide 5 — Findings: A graph based only on actual measurements. Axis labels and units should be visible. Do not invent findings if no actual results are available.
• Slide 6 — Interpretation and limitation: How the results relate to the question and the conditions that may limit the inference.
• Slide 7 — Conclusion: The answer supported by the data and an important limitation.
• Slide 8 — References and contributions: Sources used and contribution information.

The number of slides in this example is not a required standard. In your own presentation, give each slide a specific purpose: to establish context, explain the method, show evidence, or state the conclusion. If a slide is serving several of these purposes at once, consider whether splitting or simplifying the content would improve the narrative.

Make findings and visuals clear

Before showing a figure or table, explain what the audience is looking at. Introduce the variables, axes, and units if applicable; then point out the important pattern. The University of Illinois guidelines also recommend first directing the audience to the axes and indicators in the figure or table, then summarizing the main data pattern. Include statistical information when it is relevant to your study, and make clear which finding it relates to.

Do not confuse a hypothesis with a result: a hypothesis or prediction is an expectation to be tested; findings are the data obtained in the research. Keep your interpretation within the scope supported by the data you have. If a visual or claim comes from another study, clearly identify its source.

Final checklist

Before completing the presentation, review these questions in order:

• Are the research question and main message clear?
• Do the methods provide the information needed to assess the findings?
• Are the findings based on actual data and distinguished from predictions?
• Are the variables, axes, and units in graphs and tables clear?
• Does the discussion turn into a stronger claim than the evidence supports?
• Does the closing answer the question raised at the beginning of the presentation?
• Do the references and contributions follow the relevant event’s formatting requirements?

Rehearse the entire presentation and time it; do not assume there is a universal rule for slide count or time per slide. Also check whether reading the headings in sequence creates a coherent line from the research question to the conclusion. For more information about acknowledgements and contributions slides, see the guide to acknowledgements and contributions slides in scientific presentations.

Frequently asked questions

How much detail should I include in the methods section?

Provide enough information for the audience to understand how the study was conducted and what the findings can support. If the presentation guidelines require more detail, follow them; consider shortening other details so they do not overshadow the main message.

Should every scientific presentation include a hypothesis?

If the research question and study type do not lend themselves to a hypothesis, you can begin the presentation with the aim and question. If you use a hypothesis, present it as an expectation to be tested; do not portray it as an established finding.

Related practical guides

You can explore the relevant step in this work in more detail with the guide to audio file formats in Google Slides.