Tips for a great talk
Congratulations, you got a talk! This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase your work to an audience that is excited about your research. Here are a few tips for effective communication:
One slide per minute: Stick to your time. A good rule of thumb is to have one slide per minute.
Respect your timing: Standard talks are 10-12 minutes; Lightning talks are 6-8 minutes (including Q&A). Please plan accordingly to keep the sessions on track.
Check videos work: Wasting time waiting for a video to load is a distraction. Ensure it works on the system you are presenting on by uploading your slides well ahead of time.
Know your audience: We have a mix of CS and Earth Science researchers. Make as few assumptions about background knowledge as possible. Remember, you are the leading expert, but others may be new to your specific topi
Avoid heavy math: This is a talk, not a test. Define all terms and present only what the audience needs to understand your results.
Readable figures: Ensure labels, titles, and text are large enough to be read from the back of the room
Less is more for text: Avoid putting too much text on the slides. The audience should listen to you, not just read.
Practice: Try practicing in front of a friendly audience for feedback on delivery and timing.
Most important: Have fun! The audience wants you to succeed in giving a great talk!
More tips here
Poster Guidelines
Format & Dimensions: The standard size is A0 Portrait (841 x 1189 mm). Ensure your poster fits these dimensions to stay within the allocated board space.
The « 3-Second Rule »: Use a clear, bold title and a central « takeaway » message. A passerby should understand your main finding in 3 seconds from 2 meters away.
Embrace White Space: Avoid the « wall of text. » Aim for 40% visual content (figures, charts, maps) and leave enough open space to guide the reader’s eye naturally.
Visual Hierarchy: Place your most important result front and center. Use headings to orient the reader, moving from top-left (Introduction) to bottom-right (Conclusions).
Interdisciplinary Clarity: Since CI26 mixes Earth Science and ML, define your acronyms and avoid niche jargon.
- Earth Science focus: Refer to EGU Guidelines for data legibility (min. font 16pt) or for a more ML/CS focus: Use MIT Comm Lab’s strategy to prioritize a « evidence-first » layout over heavy math.
Legibility from a Distance: All text and figure legends should be readable from 1.5 to 2.0 meters away. Check your color contrast, high contrast between text and background is essential.
Prepare your « Elevator Pitch »: Be ready with a 20-second summary for « information shoppers » and a more detailed 3-minute walk-through for interested experts.
QR Codes for Impact: Include a QR code linking to your full paper, code repository, or supplemental videos to bridge the gap between your poster and your deep research.
Contact
If you have any technical questions regarding your presentation, please contact the organizing committee.