How to Prepare for and

Present a Seminar
(Including a Research Proposal)

Betul Gurunlu
Assistant Professor
Bioengineering Dept., Uskudar University
Istanbul, 2023
Seminar Presentation
What is Seminar Presentation?
• A “Seminar” is a meeting for discussion or training. In the academic
sphere a seminar is a class at a university or a college where a small
group of students and a teacher discuss a particular topic.
Presentation is the way in which something is offered, shown or
explained. A seminar is an informal talk about your findings or
research. So a seminar presentation can be defined as a small group
of persons in a class or in an organization assembled to have an
exchange of views on a particular topic. The participants express their
views on the given topic in an informal way. So a seminar is a very
enlightening and effective information sharing process. Holding of a
seminar is a teaching learning process.
Importance of seminars/Advantages of
seminars
• Seminars offer opportunities for fair and free discussion on a given
topic. Participants express their views in a systematic and analytical
way so that each aspect of the topic is thoroughly discussed. In the
modern world characterized by fast industrial growth and
sophistication in business management techniques ability to present
your views is highly desirable and it is appreciated by business
houses.
Importance of seminars/Advantages of
seminars
• At the academic level seminars hone the presentation skills of the
students as they learn and practice the basic techniques of
presentation. Speaking well in a seminar improves your presentation
skills to make you competent to face the challenges of leadership in
an organization. Through training and practice you learn the skills of
presenting your ideas logically and to report the results of your
research, investigation or enquiry. By effective presentation you can
convince your audience about the veracity of what you speak or plan
to do. Through methodical training and practice you can learn how to
make your presentation interesting, engaging and informative.
How can you make an effective presentation?
1) The most important thing is the preparation to be made about the
seminar. You should have a good fundamental knowledge of the
subject. It will enable you to speak with confidence as well as to
enable you to answer satisfactorily the questions put to you.

2) Write, plan and organize your material so that your presentation has
a logical progression. A well-planned presentation has –
i) Introduction of the topic,
ii) Explanation of the subject matter,
iii) Conclusion
How can you make an effective presentation?
• Introduction of the topic is very important. It can arrest the attention
of the audience. It becomes enthusiastic about your presentation.
Before giving the introduction of the topic you may greet the
audience and introduce yourself. You may start your presentation by
asking a question. Suppose your topic is the importance of computers
– you can ask “would you like to live in a world without computers?”
or “Can you imagine today’s world without computers?”
The main body
After introducing the subject of the seminar you should elaborate the
subject in a logical and coherent way. Your presentation must have
i) Clarify of expression
ii) Accuracy of language and
iii) Spontaneity of expression
Conclusion
• In the concluding part you should give a summary of the whole
presentation. You should give solutions of the problems discussed
and suggestions, if any. Don’t forget to thank the audience for
listening to your presentation attentively and with interest.
Some other important features of good
seminar presentation
i) The first thing the audience notices is the dress and appearance. It is
said that dress proclaims the man. Dress yourself well for your seminar
presentation. It does not mean that you should wear gaudy and
expensive clothes. Your dress should be complete, simple and neat and
clean. If you are wearing a shirt wear a neck-tie also. You should wear
shoes and not chappals or sandals.
Some other important features of good
seminar presentation
ii) Body language While presenting your seminar do not stand like a
statue. Let your eyes and face also speak. You should express your
ideas as much through your facial expressions as you do through your
language.
iii) Maintain your eye contact with your audience so that they feel they
are getting due attention from you.
iv) Do not make a speech but talk to your audience
Some other important features of good
seminar presentation
v) Remain Cheerful and positive: Your cheerfulness and positive
attitude will help you a lot. Cheerfulness is infectious. It moves from
you to your audience. If you are cheerful your audience will never feel
bored and your presentation will never be dull.
vi) Speak at a very slow speed but loudly enough for your audience to
listen to you.
vii) English is a rhythm based language, Modulate your voice giving
suitable pauses.
The above mentioned steps will help you to do well in seminars and
group discussions.
Some Advice…for
professional life
OUTLINE

1. Power of communication
2. General and Specific rules
in making a presentation
3. Q&A period
4. Research proposal
Power of Effective Communications

Leadership
 Inspire colleagues
 Power of analysis and synthesis
 Simplify complex issues … explain
 Recognition within organization
OUTLINE

1. Power of communication
2. General and specific rules
in making a presentation
3. Q&A period
4. Research proposal
REMEMBER….

• CONTENT
• DESIGN
• DELIVERY
GENERAL RULES

1. KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE

GENERAL RULES

2. BE PREPARED
- confidence
- mechanical issues
- notes/no notes?
GENERAL RULES

3. BE ON TIME
- slides or no slides?
- how many slides?
- remember: Effective is
the key word
 GENERAL RULES

4. HAVE A MESSAGE

HAVE A STORY TO TELL

(make sure it is clear to you!)
 PREMISE
 Knowledge and know-how determine how well off societies are
vis a vis to other societies

 Education of engineers is critical to every nation to ensure

the prosperity of their citizens

 Standard of living hinges on our ability to educate a large

number of sufficiently innovative engineers

 Follow the Money ! R&D spending fuels innovation

 Creation of wealth is related to a nation’s ability to make

products that other nations want to purchase
 GENERAL RULES

5. TELL THE AUDIENCE

WHAT YOU WILL DO

DO IT

TELL THEM WHAT YOU DID

GENERAL RULES

6. NO COMMERCIALIZATION
& GIVE CREDITS
- co-authors
- sponsors
- slides “borrowed”
- data
GENERAL RULES

7. LESS IS MORE

(BEAUTY IN SIMPLICITY)
 GENERAL RULES

8. NO JOKES
- fine line between being
entertaining and unprofessional

USE PERSONAL STORIES THAT

STRENGTHEN MESSAGE
GENERAL RULES

9. ENGAGE THE AUDIENCE

CONNECT WITH THEM
 GENERAL RULES

10. BE EXCITED ABOUT

THE SUBJECT; BE POSITIVE
SPECIFIC SKILL SETS
 SPECIFIC SKILL SETS

1. DO NOT LOOK AT SLIDES/SCREEN

LOOK AT THE AUDIENCE
IMPORTANCE OF EYE CONTACT
SPECIFIC SKILL SETS

2. ATTENTION SPAN OF AUDIENCE

(1/3rd RULE)
DO NOT BARRAGE THEM WITH SLIDES
SPECIFIC SKILL SETS

3. CLARITY
- in writing
- in graphs and tables
- color scheme
- sentences vs bullets
- photos
- margins
- movies
INDUSTRIAL
REVOLUTION

STEAM ENGINE
MACHINE TOOLS
TEXTILE MACHINERY
STEAMSHIP
STEEL INDUSTRY
RAILROADS
COMMUNICATIONS
TELEGRAPH
ELECTRIC POWER
CHEMICAL INDUSTRY

WORLD POPULATION ESTIMATES

1700 650 MILLION
1800 900 MILLION
1900 1.6 BILLION
1950 2.5 BILLION
The End of the Cold War Era

USA the only remaining superpower …

Our Responsibilities ? Societal context?
RECYCLING/PACKAGING
Is there a correlation here ... Or not!
 INNOVATION IS KEY

“Research is the transformation of

money into knowledge;
Innovation is the transformation of
knowledge into MONEY”

Geoffrey Nickelson, 3M
SPECIFIC SKILL SETS

4. REUSE OUTLINE
OUTLINE

1. Power of communication
2. General and Specific rules
in making a presentation
3. Q&A period
4. Research proposal
OUTLINE

1. Power of communication
2. General and Specific rules
in making a presentation
3. Q&A period
4. Research proposal
OUTLINE

1. Power of communication
2. General and Specific rules
in making a presentation
3. Q&A period
4. Research proposal
SPECIFIC SKILL SETS

5. PURPOSEFUL AND
APPROPRIATE
REDUNDANCY
SPECIFIC SKILL SETS

6. POSE QUESTIONS...
AND THEN ANSWER
 Successful Partnerships
Between Academia and
Industry
CIEC- February 5, 2015- Palm Springs CA

Diran Apelian
Distinguished Visiting Professor – UC Davis
Alcoa-Howmet professor of Engineering
Metal Processing Institute
WPI, Worcester, MA USA 01609
WHAT are the two most
important assets of a
successful corporation?

KNOWLEDGE

PEOPLE
WHAT are the two most
important products of a
successful consortium?

KNOWLEDGE

PEOPLE
www.wpi.edu/+mpi
SPECIFIC SKILL SETS

7. EQUATIONS VS. WORDS

SPECIFIC SKILL SETS

8. HANDOUTS OR
NO HANDOUTS?
SPECIFIC SKILL SETS

9. CADENCE
SPECIFIC SKILL SETS

10. VOICE, TONALITY,

LOUD ENOUGH?
OUTLINE

1. Power of communication
2. General and Specific rules
in making a presentation
3. Q&A period
4. Research proposal
Q & A: THIS IS WHEN YOU SHINE

1. UNDERSTAND THE Q
2. DID EVERYONE HEAR IT?
3. BE HONEST… NO YAWP!
4. THINK OUT LOUD
5. THANK PEOPLE FOR THE Q
6. BUSINESS CARDS
7. GET BACK TO THOSE WHO ASKED Q
8. SEED QUESTIONS… SOMETIMES?
9. DEBRIEF WITH YOURSELF
10. HAVE FUN AND EXUDE ENTHUSIASM
OUTLINE

1. Power of communication
2. General and Specific rules
in making a presentation
3. Q&A period
4. Research proposal
RESEARCH PROPOSALS
 ANSWER THE 3 Q

WHY?
(scientific gaps in knowledge base)

WHAT?
(methodology, experimental, deliverables, timetable, etc.)

SO WHAT?
(Impact!)
THANK A YOU.  GACI AS . K
R  SHUK RAN.  M ZER I .  E
 
TAK  TK. I A
F HARIE S TO.  A GR
A I E .  D
A
N
K.  
ARIGATO.  XE  X I .  M A
H LO