OPA Communication Series: Demystifying PowerPoint

Mastering communication is not easy, but it is one of the most valuable skills graduate students and postdocs can develop for sharing their research effectively. This Fall, the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs is offering a three-part virtual workshop series led by Danielle Hennis from Make it Memorable, focused on strengthening communication and presentation skills. Sessions will cover advanced PowerPoint techniques, the power of scientific storytelling, and effective data visualization strategies.

Each 1.5-hour workshop is highly practical and filled with tips and exercises that you can immediately apply to your own research presentations. Please note: sessions will be live and not recorded, so be sure to take advantage of them in real time.

As a bonus, a pre-series session - Deconstructing Presentations - is available as a limited-time recording through mid-October, providing a foundation on the psychology of audience memory. Learn more about the series and access the pre-series session at research.unc.edu/postdocs.

You’ve learned the theory of creating better slides—now it’s time to put it into practice using advanced PowerPoint tools! In this hands-on PowerPoint lab, you’ll discover how to transform your slides into professional, visually engaging presentations. This session will guide you in applying key design principles, such as aligning objects to utilize the Proximity Effect, replacing ineffective images and icons, and emphasizing critical sections of charts and graphs. You’ll also learn to create infographics using PowerPoint tools, apply the Rule of Thirds to enhance image appeal, and direct your audience’s attention effectively. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have the skills and confidence to turn theory into practice and make your presentations stand out.

Register