Photo by Firmbee.com on Unsplash
So you have submitted your proposal to the conference, and you have been accepted! You are excited and you have already arranged your travel as well. Or if you are presenting online, you skip this step : )
And now, you need to prepare the presentation. Here are some steps to take into consideration:
Most conferences allow for a long time between acceptance emails and the conference dates for you to prepare. Please do not leave it at the last minute. As busy as our lives are, having to study, families, caregiving, work, there is absolutely no excuse apart from health reasons to procrastinate. There is nothing worse than seeing a hastily put-together presentation during the conference; the conference organisers have recognised you for your work and it is an honour to be accepted to present, so the least we can do is prepare really well!
Split your presentation into smaller tasks. Are you presenting a paper? Have you decided to have a PowerPoint along with your paper? Work on the paper first, and the slides later on for example.
Practise, practise, practise. If you are like me and cannot learn something by heart (which I generally discourage my students from doing also, because it rarely sounds natural when they eventually present), read your script or paper several times, so many times as to feel comfortable. Practise in front of the mirror - this helps to see your posture (this has helped me as I occasionally slouch). Practise in front of your partner, family member or dog.
Make a list for Q&A. Make a list of potential questions they might ask you at the end and practise what you will answer. Ask a colleague or supervisor to add a few questions they think you may be asked. I do this Q&A list of potential questions with my students, we practise and we love it! It also takes away a lot of the presenting stress.
Make sure you collect all your materials early enough. Are you presenting a poster? Print it early enough and buy the protective tube to carry it in. Are you giving out handouts? Print them out early, in good quality ink and paper and put each one of them in a plastic folder for the participants to take home. It is easier for them to pick it up and store in their bag immediately. And you can transport the handouts safely and they arrive at your destination in good condition.
The Music Highlight
There are two groups of people in the world right now: those who are ECSTATIC about the Oasis reunion and tour, and those who don’t care. I belong to the first one : ) I am thrilled, happy, ecstatic, you name it! It’s impossible for me to go to one of their concerts next year, but just the fact that they are together again (I hope for long) and may be creating new music - ah, I wish I could tell this to my 15-year-old self, which is the age I started listening to them and I was absolutely taken by their music and style.
And here comes my absolute favourite track!