1. Posters	2. Orals	3. Papers
For the 7 seconds scientist walking by: have an informative title have one central picture or sketch illustrative of your work For the 30 seconds scientist slowing down: put the conclusions at the top use few words use simple graphics use large fonts organize the information in a logical way use narrow columns (for speed reading) For the 2 minutes scientist fully stopping: put your photo on your poster prepare a 30 seconds talk with guidance and highlights include some technical details on methods include most important results include references let the person go For the "I will read it later" scientist: print small versions of your poster put pre-prints of associated papers	Content: prepare a logical outline include suspense have few messages (one is best, three maximum) know your most important message make transitions between all slides use reminders (the outline is a good one) use simple graphics use simple tables use simple backgrounds use animations with parsimony include some information that you do not plan to say aloud be aware that the audience will want to read everything Delivery: write your talk practice your talk time yourself resist the temptation to speak very fast do not hesitate (practice your talk again) vary the intonations of your voice look at the audience address the entire audience (use different levels of information) speak to the back row explain what you are showing point to the important information be confident do not talk to a noisy audience, wait for attention have a positive attitude towards your talk don't use a pointer all the time when you use a pointer, hold it still put few words on slides (no long sentences) learn your opening sentence by heart learn your closing sentence by heart if you must finish before the end, think, don't rush finish with your most important message	Everywhere: avoid adjectives (for example "this is very large") avoid judgemental statements (for example "this is interesting") provide numbers put the information where it is expected if you mean the same thing, use the same word In every sentence: start with the subject make sure that the "subject" used is the topic of the sentence put the verb right after the subject put the detailed information at the end make short sentences (change a "," into a "." when you can) In every paragraph: the first sentence announces the content of the paragraph the middle develops the idea the last sentence wraps up and introduces the next paragraph In an abstract: be concise state methods state results highlight impacts

Prepared by Corinne Le Quéré, with input from Eric Saltzman, Tom Pederson, Gill Malin, and David J.C. MacKay.

Additional tips from a summary made by Anonymous based on L. A. Olsen and T. N. Huckin, Principles of Communication for Science and Technology, 1983. New York: McGraw-Hill.

A technique of ordering information to increase readability of sentences and paragraphs

1. Put given information before new information
   • Poor: The 5-year plan does not indicate a clearly defined commitment to long-range environmental research. For instance, the development of techniques rather than the identification and definition of important long-range issues is the subject of the plan where it does address long-range research.
   • Better: The 5-year plan does not indicate a clearly defined commitment to long-range environmental research. For instance, where the plan does address long-range research, it discusses the development of techniques rather than the identification of important long-range issues.
2. Put topical information in subject position
   • Poor: Not all investors will benefit from All-Savers Certificates. Investors exceeding a deposit of $7,931 would have an after-tax yield far lower then with alternative investments, such as money market funds. Alternative investments would also yield better after-tax yields and no penalty if the certificate was redeemed within the one-year maturity period.
   • Better: Not all investors will benefit from All-Savers Certificates. Investors exceeding a deposit of $7,931 would have an after-tax yield far lower than with alternative investments, such as money market funds. Investors redeeming their certificates within the one-year maturity period would also have a lower after-tax yield and would pay a penalty besides.
3. Put "light" noun phrases before "heavy" noun phrases
   • Poor: I have sent my maiden aunt, who lives in the western suburbs of Chicago with her two dogs and six cats, a family portrait.
   • Better: I have sent a family portrait to my maiden aunt, who lives in the western suburbs of Chicago with her two dogs and six cats.
   • Poor: The idea of sending her a picture, which includes Sarah's new baby in her Easter dress, struck me suddenly last night.
   • Better: Last night, I was suddenly struck by the idea of sending her a picture, which includes Sarah's new baby in her Easter dress.
   • S____ V_____________ Preferred
   • S______ V___________ OK if subject not too long
   • S________ V_________ Not preferred

Ways of satisfying these criteria

1. Passive-active alternation
   • Poor: A typewriter is a machine that prints alphabetic characters, numbers, and other symbols. Christopher Scoles invented it.
   • Better: A typewriter is a machine that prints alphabetic characters, numbers, and other symbols. It was invented by Christopher Scoles.
   • Poor:Christopher Scoles was a nineteenth-century inventor who made the life of the secretary much easier. The typewriter was invented by him.
   • Better:Christopher Scoles was a nineteenth-century inventor who made the life of the secretary much easier. He invented the typewriter.
2. Equative shift
   • Poor:There are several forms of industrial pollution the average person should know about. Acid rain, caused by coal-burning plants in the Midwest, is a serious form of industrial pollution.
   • Better:There are several forms of industrial pollution the average person should know about. One form is acid rain, caused by coal-burning plants in the Midwest.
   • Poor: Recently, acid rain has been discussed widely in the news media. A serious form of industrial pollution caused by coal-burning plants in the Midwest is acid rain.
   • Better: Recently, acid rain has been discussed widely in the news media. This acid rain is a serious form of industrial pollution caused by coal-burning plants in the Midwest.
3. Indirect object shift
   • Poor: I am sending my professors in Advanced Marketing, Marketing Research, and Psychology copies of my research paper.
   • Better: I am sending copies of my research paper to my professors in Advanced Marketing, Marketing Research, and Psychology.
   • Poor: I gave a copy of my English research paper on the psychologic problems caused by sleep deprivation to my Psychology teacher.
   • Better: I gave my Psychology teacher a copy of my English research paper on the psychologic problems caused by sleep deprivation.

Recommended books

• W. Strunk Jr. and E. B. White, The elements of Style, Longman Publishers for the fourth edition, 1999 (the first edition was published in 1959!)
• R. Heller, High Impact Speeches: How to Write and Deliver Words That Move Minds, Prentice Hall, 2002.
• S. L. Montgomery, The Chicago Guide to Communicating Science, The university of Chicago Press, Chicago and London, 2003.