How to deal with presentation time running out in a scientific conference?

Question

I understand that it is not a good idea to speak more after your time is out during a conference presentation. So we generally distribute our total times among each slide depending the contents and priority during the preparation. But sometimes what happens one/two particular slides take little more time. As a results your time goes out before summarizing your presentation.So I sometimes skip my summary and acknowledgement slides to avoid the loss of discussion time. I am wondering whether this is a good idea, or whether I should finish my talk with more 30–40 seconds?

Answer 1

Pay attention to the time! You need to practice, practice, practice! And I mean three times unless you are extremely experienced, then two will do it. (I earn a living doing presentations and after 30 years of experience I still practice out loud at least twice, then review ahead of time silently once. You can tell when you practice out loud what material can be cut, so do it and keep your timing under the allotted time. If you go over, you may take time away from someone else or from a much needed break time, so it is deemed inconsiderate. Also, if you practice a lot you will be able to get that summary in, which is also very important.

I once did a staged reading of a play about the holocaust at the famous CANDLES museum in Terre Haute, Indiana, and the director of the reading ignored our 45 minute time slot. We were abruptly cut off at 45 minutes! It was awful and frustrating, but it can certainly happen, and what's more you can't complain since they told you how much time you had..

Also, knowing you are under time will give you more confidence in your presentation and will only help you.

Congratulations! I am sure you will be wonderful.

Kathleen

Answer 2

Finish your talk! It is distracting and obvious when people rush through their conclusions and summary. It make it seem like you haven't practiced your presentation (even though you have!). Your summary is the key to keeping your ideas in the audiences minds, so I wouldn't skip it if at all possible.

Also, it ALWAYS takes longer to speak in a presentation than it does when you practice. I usually try to get my speeches to about 30 seconds-1 minute shorter that the "full" time in order to account for this. If you finish early, its no big deal and you give yourself a bigger cushion to avoid that stressful wrap up