BioShorts 2025 Conference on Ecology, Conservation, and Biodiversity
7th November 2025 - Newcastle, UK
Presentation Guidance
Whether you're presenting a full talk or a poster at a BioShorts conference, we want you to feel prepared, confident, and excited to share your work. Below you'll find guidance on the differences between oral and poster presentations, and what to expect on the day.
Oral Presentations
Oral presentations are scheduled during the main sessions of the conference and delivered to the full audience. Each talk typically lasts 10–12 minutes, followed by a brief Q&A session, for a total of 15 minutes.
Who are they suited for?
Oral slots are usually reserved for longer-scale projects, such as PhD research or academic-led investigations, where there's more scope for in-depth discussion of methods, data, and conclusions.
What to expect:
You’ll be introduced by a session chair.
You’ll present using slides (PowerPoint or similar). These must be emailed across in advance using the following link.
A Q&A will follow, typically with 1–2 questions from the audience.
Your talk should be clear, focused, and rehearsed to fit the time slot.
Suggested Slide Structure and Timing:
For a 10–12 minute talk, we recommend preparing around 7–9 slides in total. Here’s a rough breakdown (but feel free to change it up!):
Slide 1 – Title and introduction (1 minute)
Slide 2 – Background and rationale (1–1.5 minutes)
Slide 3 – Research question or aims (30 seconds)
Slides 4–6 – Methods and key results (3–4 minutes total)
Slide 7 – Interpretation and conclusions (1.5–2 minutes)
Slide 8 – Limitations and future directions (1 minute)
Slide 9 – Thank you and contact info (brief; for the end screen)
Tips:
Practise your timing – aim to finish the main talk by the 12-minute mark.
Keep slides visually clear – focus on key figures, bullet points, and diagrams.
Avoid reading directly from your slides – aim for a conversational tone.
Tailor your language to a broad scientific audience, as themes will span areas like terrestrial and marine systems, environmental management, policy, and applied research.
Poster Presentations
Poster presentations are a relaxed and informal way to share your research and connect with other attendees. They are especially well suited to undergraduate or Master's projects, early-stage research, or work-in-progress.
What to expect:
The poster session will take place towards the end of the day in a dedicated time slot. All posters will be displayed around the conference space, and presenters will stand beside their work as attendees move through the room, stopping to read and discuss the posters that interest them.
There is no formal talk or Q&A – it’s more of a one-to-one conversation, which many find a more comfortable and effective way to engage.
Why present a poster?
It’s a great way to showcase your work in a low-pressure setting.
It allows for direct interaction with researchers, academics, and professionals – including potential employers.
It’s ideal if you’re looking to build your confidence, gain feedback, and expand your network.
If you're thinking about future opportunities, it's a good way to demonstrate your communication skills and scientific thinking.
Tips for an effective poster:
Keep text clear and concise – use bullet points where possible.
Focus on your key message, not every detail.
Use visuals (figures, photos, diagrams) to help tell your story.
Make your title and headings stand out – they should draw people in.
Practise summarising your work in 1–2 minutes – be ready for questions, but keep it conversational.
Poster size and format:
Posters should be designed in A1 portrait format.
You’ll need to bring your printed poster with you on the day – we’ll provide boards and pins.
We encourage as much creativity as possible, so feel free to design your own layout or use a template that suits your style.
For those who’d like a starting point, you can download our poster template here.