how to present research paper in conference

How to Present a Research Paper | Academic Conference Edition

So you’ve just secured a speaking slot at an academic conference and are getting ready for your presentation. Congrats! However, securing a speaker slot is hard enough; now, you have to turn that fantastic research paper into an even more fantastic presentation.

There are many benefits to presenting your research at an academic conference. You can establish your credibility in the field, meet experts, researchers, editors, and other stakeholders and share your work and talk about what you do with others.

Too much pressure?

Don’t worry; you’ll learn about all the key elements you need to include in your presentation and the dos and don’ts of presenting at a conference in this article.

Key Elements to Include in Your Presentation

You already know that a conference presentation introduces a research paper or discussion topic. A good conference presentation delivers this information in a clear, concise, and interesting way to trigger discussion, curiosity, and interest from the audience. Ensure you have a good presentation by keeping the following things in mind:

• Write a detailed outline (with a thesis, main arguments, and supporting evidence) and come well-prepared (practice, practice, practice)
• Introduce the topic or research
• Talk about your sources and methods used
• Indicate whether there are conflicting views about your topic or research to trigger discussion
• Make a statement about your results
• Use visuals, handouts, slides, or any other presentation tools to your advantage.

Remember, you must address or briefly touch on your finished paper’s main points or arguments during your presentation . Don’t skip entire sections of your research. See more dos and don’ts below.

Dos and Don’ts of Presenting Your Paper at a Conference

1. understand the presentation requirements.

You must first understand your audience to understand the presentation requirements better. Understanding your audience will help you present your work in a way that is relatable and exciting to them. Do your research on the conference criteria and your audience demographics .

Remember, the audience members may not be experts in your field, so make sure you provide adequate background information and any associated facts or data during your presentation. The presented data should answer any research questions you have previously asked in your paper. Consider also contacting other speakers to understand what topics are being covered.

Next, you must ensure any audiovisual tech you need for your presentation will be up and running . Ask the conference producer important questions (if they haven’t told you already), such as:

• Will you speak through a microphone, and if so, which kind (gooseneck, lavalier, wireless)?
• How far away will audience members be able to see (good to know for slide and visual creation)?
• Suppose the conference uses projection stands, equipment, or remote controls that you haven’t used before. Will it take long to familiarize yourself with them (especially good to know if you need to arrive at the conference much earlier)?
• What kind of projector or another tech will be available, and what files can you use for your presentation?

Lastly, you’ll want to know your time limit for the presentation . A typical speaking slot is anywhere from five to ten minutes, with an additional five minutes for questions and answers. Find out from the conference producer and ensure you stick to that (especially while practicing to make it easier for the day of the presentation).

2.  Include a Hook and CTA

An engaging introduction and conclusion are just as vital in your paper as in your presentation. Think about how you’ll hook the audience into your presentation and what they’ll leave with (key quotes or takeaways). Don’t forget about a call to action (CTA) at the end; what will the audience members do after watching your presentation?

3. Create a Visual Design

If you’re creating visuals (slideshow, PowerPoint, etc.), ensure all audience members towards the back can clearly see the visuals, and don’t overwhelm them with too many. Additionally, remember that the slides and visuals are there to help your presentation, not replace it. Keep the following tricks in mind for slide creation:

• Keep text to a minimum (only the main talking points)
• Use bullet points as necessary to support your main points
• Choose appropriate fonts and backgrounds (ensure fonts are easy-to-read and straightforward and be aware of background color in contrast with font colors)
• Choose relevant, high-quality images (but you don’t need to include images on each slide).

1. Don't Wing Your Presentation

Your presentation format should look something like this:

• Title (1 slide)
• Research topic and question (1 slide)
• Research Methods (1 slide)
• Data Collected (3-5 slides)
• Research Findings (1-2 slides)
• Implications (1 slide)
• Conclusions (1 slide).

Remember not to simply read off what you wrote in your paper; your presentation should be brief and concise, with only the main talking points. You’re not reading; you’re presenting. Ensure you don’t use present tense when describing results , only past tense. Additionally, don’t use complicated graphs or charts, or distracting colors, shapes, patterns, etc., on the slides.

2. Don’t Look Unprofessional

First impressions matter, especially if this is the first time you’re presenting a paper at a conference. Before you actually present, you want to ensure you’re presentable . Think about your presentation wardrobe. While you may think it’s too early, remembers that you will only have a few seconds or minutes to make a good first impression on your audience.

Additionally, be active and engaging while presenting. Don’t have your hands in your pockets, don’t look down too often, and don’t read your presentation word-for-word from your notes. If you look bored, there’s a high chance that your audience will be bored too.

3. Don't Skip Out on Practicing Your Presentation

Practice your presentation in advance. Learn it inside and out. Practice in front of a mirror while timing yourself. Practice runs are a great way to work on your timing and presentation skills. You want to practice your presentation at least ten times .

To get as close to the real thing as possible, you have to practice your presentation in front of an audience too. You can ask a few friends or colleagues to listen and watch your presentation and give you feedback. In this way, you’ll be able to make any final tweaks to your content before conference presentation day.

Additionally, encourage your listeners to ask questions, as this can prepare you for the Q&A on conference day. Jot down a few answers to common questions within your notes in case they come up again from conference audience members.

Orvium Helps You Stay On Task

Presenting a paper at a conference is a special thing in a researcher’s life, regardless of the presentation jitters you may have. Remember that you must understand the presentation requirements , including a hook and call to action, and create a visual design. Try avoiding the don’ts, and most importantly, don’t forget to practice.

Orvium understands that sometimes it may be hard to find reviewers to listen to your presentation. That’s why we invite everyone to collaborate on our open platform . You can find fellow researchers, publishers, and reviewers and form communities with like-minded people from different disciplines to set you up for success.

We also put together a Full Guide to Planning an Academic Conference to help you with any other conference questions you may have.

And finally, if you like this post we recommend you to read the next one ''How to Get a Speaking Slot | Academic Conference Edition'' and don't forget to follow us on social media  ( Twitter , Facebook , Linkedin e Instagram ).

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Conference Papers

What this handout is about.

This handout outlines strategies for writing and presenting papers for academic conferences.

What’s special about conference papers?

Conference papers can be an effective way to try out new ideas, introduce your work to colleagues, and hone your research questions. Presenting at a conference is a great opportunity for gaining valuable feedback from a community of scholars and for increasing your professional stature in your field.

A conference paper is often both a written document and an oral presentation. You may be asked to submit a copy of your paper to a commentator before you present at the conference. Thus, your paper should follow the conventions for academic papers and oral presentations.

Preparing to write your conference paper

There are several factors to consider as you get started on your conference paper.

Determine the structure and style

How will you structure your presentation? This is an important question, because your presentation format will shape your written document. Some possibilities for your session include:

• A visual presentation, including software such as PowerPoint or Prezi
• A paper that you read aloud
• A roundtable discussion

Presentations can be a combination of these styles. For example, you might read a paper aloud while displaying images. Following your paper, you might participate in an informal conversation with your fellow presenters.

You will also need to know how long your paper should be. Presentations are usually 15-20 minutes. A general rule of thumb is that one double-spaced page takes 2-2.5 minutes to read out loud. Thus an 8-10 page, double-spaced paper is often a good fit for a 15-20 minute presentation. Adhere to the time limit.  Make sure that your written paper conforms to the presentation constraints.

Consider the conventions of the conference and the structure of your session

It is important to meet the expectations of your conference audience. Have you been to an academic conference previously?  How were presentations structured? What kinds of presentations did you find most effective? What do you know about the particular conference you are planning to attend? Some professional organizations have their own rules and suggestions for writing and presenting for their conferences. Make sure to find out what they are and stick to them.

If you proposed a panel with other scholars, then you should already have a good idea of your panel’s expectations. However, if you submitted your paper individually and the conference organizers placed it on a panel with other papers, you will need additional information.

Will there be a commentator? Commentators, also called respondents or discussants, can be great additions to panels, since their job is to pull the papers together and pose questions. If there will be a commentator, be sure to know when they would like to have a copy of your paper. Observe this deadline.

You may also want to find out what your fellow presenters will be talking about. Will you circulate your papers among the other panelists prior to the conference? Will your papers address common themes? Will you discuss intersections with each other’s work after your individual presentations? How collaborative do you want your panel to be?

Analyze your audience

Knowing your audience is critical for any writing assignment, but conference papers are special because you will be physically interacting with them. Take a look at our handout on audience . Anticipating the needs of your listeners will help you write a conference paper that connects your specific research to their broader concerns in a compelling way.

What are the concerns of the conference?

You can identify these by revisiting the call for proposals and reviewing the mission statement or theme of the conference. What key words or concepts are repeated? How does your work relate to these larger research questions? If you choose to orient your paper toward one of these themes, make sure there is a genuine relationship. Superficial use of key terms can weaken your paper.

What are the primary concerns of the field?

How do you bridge the gap between your research and your field’s broader concerns? Finding these linkages is part of the brainstorming process. See our handout on brainstorming . If you are presenting at a conference that is within your primary field, you should be familiar with leading concerns and questions. If you will be attending an interdisciplinary conference or a conference outside of your field, or if you simply need to refresh your knowledge of what’s current in your discipline, you can:

• Read recently published journals and books, including recent publications by the conference’s featured speakers
• Talk to people who have been to the conference
• Pay attention to questions about theory and method. What questions come up in the literature? What foundational texts should you be familiar with?
• Review the initial research questions that inspired your project. Think about the big questions in the secondary literature of your field.
• Try a free-writing exercise. Imagine that you are explaining your project to someone who is in your department, but is unfamiliar with your specific topic. What can you assume they already know? Where will you need to start in your explanation? How will you establish common ground?

Contextualizing your narrow research question within larger trends in the field will help you connect with your audience.  You might be really excited about a previously unknown nineteenth-century poet. But will your topic engage others?  You don’t want people to leave your presentation, thinking, “What was the point of that?” By carefully analyzing your audience and considering the concerns of the conference and the field, you can present a paper that will have your listeners thinking, “Wow! Why haven’t I heard about that obscure poet before? She is really important for understanding developments in Romantic poetry in the 1800s!”

Writing your conference paper

I have a really great research paper/manuscript/dissertation chapter on this same topic. Should I cut and paste?

Be careful here. Time constraints and the needs of your audience may require a tightly focused and limited message. To create a paper tailored to the conference, you might want to set everything aside and create a brand new document.  Don’t worry—you will still have that paper, manuscript, or chapter if you need it. But you will also benefit from taking a fresh look at your research.

Citing sources

Since your conference paper will be part of an oral presentation, there are special considerations for citations. You should observe the conventions of your discipline with regard to including citations in your written paper. However, you will also need to incorporate verbal cues to set your evidence and quotations off from your text when presenting. For example, you can say: “As Nietzsche said, quote, ‘And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you,’ end quote.” If you use multiple quotations in your paper, think about omitting the terms “quote” and “end quote,” as these can become repetitive. Instead, signal quotations through the inflection of your voice or with strategic pauses.

Organizing the paper

There are numerous ways to effectively organize your conference paper, but remember to have a focused message that fits the time constraints and meets the needs of your audience. You can begin by connecting your research to the audience’s concerns, then share a few examples/case studies from your research, and then, in conclusion, broaden the discussion back out to general issues in the field.

Don’t overwhelm or confuse your audience

You should limit the information that you present. Don’t attempt to summarize your entire dissertation in 10 pages. Instead, try selecting main points and provide examples to support those points. Alternatively, you might focus on one main idea or case study and use 2-4 examples to explain it.

Check for clarity in the text

One way to anticipate how your ideas will sound is to read your paper out loud. Reading out loud is an excellent proofreading technique and is a great way to check the clarity of your ideas; you are likely to hear problems that you didn’t notice in just scanning your draft.  Help listeners understand your ideas by making sure that subjects and verbs are clear and by avoiding unnecessarily complex sentences.

Include verbal cues in the text

Make liberal use of transitional phrases like however, therefore, and thus, as well as signpost words like first, next, etc.

If you have 5 main points, say so at the beginning and list those 5 ideas. Refer back to this structure frequently as you transition between sections (“Now, I will discuss my fourth point, the importance of plasma”).

Use a phrase like “I argue” to announce your thesis statement. Be sure that there is only one of these phrases—otherwise your audience will be confused about your central message.

Refer back to the structure, and signal moments where you are transitioning to a new topic: “I just talked about x, now I’m going to talk about y.”

I’ve written my conference paper, now what?

Now that you’ve drafted your conference paper, it’s time for the most important part—delivering it before an audience of scholars in your field!  Remember that writing the paper is only one half of what a conference paper entails. It is both a written text and a presentation.

With preparation, your presentation will be a success. Here are a few tips for an effective presentation. You can also see our handout on speeches .

Cues to yourself

Include helpful hints in your personal copy of the paper. You can remind yourself to pause, look up and make eye contact with your audience, or employ body language to enhance your message. If you are using a slideshow, you can indicate when to change slides. Increasing the font size to 14-16 pt. can make your paper easier to read.

Practice, practice, practice

When you practice, time yourself. Are you reading too fast? Are you enunciating clearly? Do you know how to pronounce all of the words in your paper? Record your talk and critically listen to yourself. Practice in front of friends and colleagues.

If you are using technology, familiarize yourself with it. Check and double-check your images. Remember, they are part of your presentation and should be proofread just like your paper.  Print a backup copy of your images and paper, and bring copies of your materials in multiple formats, just in case.  Be sure to check with the conference organizers about available technology.

Professionalism

The written text is only one aspect of the overall conference paper. The other is your presentation. This means that your audience will evaluate both your work and you! So remember to convey the appropriate level of professionalism.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Adler, Abby. 2010. “Talking the Talk: Tips on Giving a Successful Conference Presentation.” Psychological Science Agenda 24 (4).

Kerber, Linda K. 2008. “Conference Rules: How to Present a Scholarly Paper.” The Chronicle of Higher Education , March 21, 2008. https://www.chronicle.com/article/Conference-Rules-How-to/45734 .

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Present Your Paper

Get ready to present your paper at a conference. A key part of the research and review process is presenting and defending your work in front of peers at a conference.

The first step in getting ready to present your paper is to determine what key message you want to communicate to your audience. Most conference presentations are 10-20 minutes long, so you will not have time to present all the details of your work. The objective of your presentation is to get people interested in your work, not to explain it to them fully.

Organize your talk with these tips:

• Begin by stating the purpose or goal of your research. Tell the audience why your work is important.
• Provide a very brief literature review. This will give the audience some context.
• Move on to the main points of your own research.
• Conclude by reiterating the importance of your research and emphasizing the key points.

Tips for Creating Presentation Slides

Remember that your slides do not have to tell the story on their own. Slides are meant to illustrate your work, not explain it entirely.

• Use graphics where possible. Limit text to phrases and bullet points, rather than full sentences.
• Once you have drafted your slides, record yourself practicing your talk with the slides so that you can identify areas for improvement.
• Be sure to stay within your time limit and leave time for questions from the audience.

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Presenting Your Research at Academic Conferences

Academic conferences allow you to:

• Start  developing your research agenda. Get useful feedback on your research as you convert conference papers into journal articles.
• Gain  visibility with future colleagues, employers, and future collaborators.
• Start  networking and meet people (other graduate students, future colleagues and mentors, researchers you admire).
• Interview  for jobs.

Which conferences?

Most UW departments are well-represented at key national academic conferences.

Many professional associations have divisions that may reflect your department’s areas of expertise. Graduate students also find it useful to present their research at topic-specific conferences. Check with faculty to see which organizations hold conferences where it would be appropriate for your research to be presented.

When and how?

Deadlines for conferences are usually noted on academic organizations’ websites. When considering how to submit your research, be sure to check submission requirements. Some conferences require full papers, while others will consider only abstracts. Be sure to adhere to these details and all deadlines, and be sure to submit your work to a relevant division! (What constitutes “relevant?” Check abstracts and programs from previous years’ conferences.)

At the conference…

Some departments provide funds that allow you to travel to conferences to present your research. In addition to talking about your research in a variety of ways, take advantage of being at the conference to learn about the field, meet other people, and participate.

Presenting your research

You will be judged first and foremost on your research, which means that you should strive for a great presentation. In other words:

• Know what attendees at this particular conference expect, e.g., reading your paper vs. summarizing your paper? PowerPoint slides?
• Know your research and what it contributes to the larger body of research.
• Never, ever, exceed the allotted time! Think of your presentation as a headline service. You cannot cover all points, so select the ones you believe are most important.

How to navigate the conference

Read  the conference program; attend the sessions that interest you, but don’t plan every hour.

Be ready  with a brief “elevator talk” about your research. Conferences are very busy times, and people will not have time to hear a full explication of all your research projects.

Identify  the individuals you would like to meet and ask your mentor/adviser to introduce you.

Introduce  yourself to people. Many graduate students feel as if they know no one, so you’re not alone. If you are interested in meeting faculty and “big names,” walk up to them when they appear to have a spare moment, and talk about how you are using their research in your own work. Chances are they will want to learn more about you and your work.

Attend  graduate forums and receptions.

Socialize  at receptions held by various departments and schools.

Regardless of the sessions you attend and the people you meet, always remain professional. You want to be remembered for your research and professional demeanor, not anything else!

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Ten tips for presenting a conference paper

Advice from a guide prepared by two academics will help you to impress a conference audience.

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Speaking at academic conferences can be a scary prospect . Here is some advice from “ How to give a conference paper ” by Edward James, emeritus professor of medieval history at University College Dublin , and Farah Mendlesohn, professor of literary history at Anglia Ruskin University

• A conference paper is not an article. You can fit about 2,100 words into a 20-minute paper session. If you try to fit in more, you will either gabble or run over time. Both are not just embarrassing, they are plain rude .
• If it is an international conference, there will be people there to whom English ­is a second or third language. Even if their English is good, they may not be familiar with your accent. Speak clearly.
• Smile when you start. The importance of this cannot be overstated. Smiling lifts the voice (this is why singers often smile on high notes). It makes you sound enthusiastic even if you aren’t. The audience is on your side. It doesn’t want you to fail. On the whole, this should be an enjoyable experience, and it will be the more so if you start by realising we are all in this together.
• Do not read to the desk. If you hold the paper up at nose level, you will be talking to the room. This helps both to project the voice and to maintain contact with the audience.
• You can fit in only one theoretical idea. There is time to expand on it and to explain how it applies to the texts you are discussing, but you do not have time to discuss more than one.
• Start the paper with your thesis. Even if this isn’t how you write, you need to think of a paper as a guided tour. Your audience needs some clue as to where it is going.
• There is a good chance [that your study of a subject] is incomplete. This is good . It will make the paper seem open to argument. The trick is not to let it look directionless.
• Encourage questions, leave things open, say things like “I haven’t yet thought x through fully” or “I’m planning to consider y at a later date…”. It will enable the audience to feel they can contribute to the development of your ideas. [With] really beautiful papers, all that is left for the audience to do is say “wow”. It’s awkward for the audience: they want to be able to comment; and it’s embarrassing for the presenter who thinks no one liked their paper.
• “Preparation” is important but not “rehearsal”. Too much rehearsal may make you sound dull. The aim is for a paper that sounds spontaneous, but isn’t. Do not practise reading the paper aloud (it will sound tired by the time we hear it), but do practise reading to punctuation from a range of texts.
• Whatever you do, do not imagine that you can take a section of a paper written for a journal, or a chapter written for a book, and simply read it out. A paper written for academic publication is rarely suitable for reading out loud. Get used to the idea that you should write a paper specifically for the conference. It will be less dense, less formal, with shorter sentences, and more signposts for the listeners.

These tips have been reproduced with the consent of the authors and a full version of this guide, which also includes tips on speaking without reading, is available for download here .

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Advanced Research Methods

• Presenting the Research Paper
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• Writing the Research Paper

Writing an Abstract

Oral presentation, compiling a powerpoint.

Abstract : a short statement that describes a longer work.

• Indicate the subject.
• Describe the purpose of the investigation.
• Briefly discuss the method used.
• Make a statement about the result.

Oral presentations usually introduce a discussion of a topic or research paper. A good oral presentation is focused, concise, and interesting in order to trigger a discussion.

• Be well prepared; write a detailed outline.
• Introduce the subject.
• Talk about the sources and the method.
• Indicate if there are conflicting views about the subject (conflicting views trigger discussion).
• Make a statement about your new results (if this is your research paper).
• Use visual aids or handouts if appropriate.

An effective PowerPoint presentation is just an aid to the presentation, not the presentation itself .

• Be brief and concise.
• Focus on the subject.
• Attract attention; indicate interesting details.
• If possible, use relevant visual illustrations (pictures, maps, charts graphs, etc.).
• Use bullet points or numbers to structure the text.
• Make clear statements about the essence/results of the topic/research.
• Don't write down the whole outline of your paper and nothing else.
• Don't write long full sentences on the slides.
• Don't use distracting colors, patterns, pictures, decorations on the slides.
• Don't use too complicated charts, graphs; only those that are relatively easy to understand.
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• How to present a research paper in PPT: best practices

A research paper presentation is frequently used at conferences and other events where you have a chance to share the results of your research and receive feedback from colleagues. Although it may appear as simple as summarizing the findings, successful examples of research paper presentations show that there is a little bit more to it.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the basic outline and steps to create a good research paper presentation. We’ll also explain what to include and what not to include in your presentation of research paper and share some of the most effective tips you can use to take your slides to the next level.

Research paper PowerPoint presentation outline

Creating a PowerPoint presentation for a research paper involves organizing and summarizing your key findings, methodology, and conclusions in a way that encourages your audience to interact with your work and share their interest in it with others. Here’s a basic research paper outline PowerPoint you can follow:

1. Title (1 slide)

Typically, your title slide should contain the following information:

• Title of the research paper
• Affiliation or institution
• Date of presentation

2. Introduction (1-3 slides)

On this slide of your presentation, briefly introduce the research topic and its significance and state the research question or objective.

3. Research questions or hypothesis (1 slide)

This slide should emphasize the objectives of your research or present the hypothesis.

4. Literature review (1 slide)

Your literature review has to provide context for your research by summarizing relevant literature. Additionally, it should highlight gaps or areas where your research contributes.

5. Methodology and data collection (1-2 slides)

This slide of your research paper PowerPoint has to explain the research design, methods, and procedures. It must also Include details about participants, materials, and data collection and emphasize special equipment you have used in your work.

6. Results (3-5 slides)

On this slide, you must present the results of your data analysis and discuss any trends, patterns, or significant findings. Moreover, you should use charts, graphs, and tables to illustrate data and highlight something novel in your results (if applicable).

7. Conclusion (1 slide)

Your conclusion slide has to summarize the main findings and their implications, as well as discuss the broader impact of your research. Usually, a single statement is enough.

8. Recommendations (1 slide)

If applicable, provide recommendations for future research or actions on this slide.

9. References (1-2 slides)

The references slide is where you list all the sources cited in your research paper.

10. Acknowledgments (1 slide)

On this presentation slide, acknowledge any individuals, organizations, or funding sources that contributed to your research.

11. Appendix (1 slide)

If applicable, include any supplementary materials, such as additional data or detailed charts, in your appendix slide.

The above outline is just a general guideline, so make sure to adjust it based on your specific research paper and the time allotted for the presentation.

Steps to creating a memorable research paper presentation

Creating a PowerPoint presentation for a research paper involves several critical steps needed to convey your findings and engage your audience effectively, and these steps are as follows:

Step 1. Understand your audience:

• Identify the audience for your presentation.
• Tailor your content and level of detail to match the audience’s background and knowledge.

Step 2. Define your key messages:

• Clearly articulate the main messages or findings of your research.
• Identify the key points you want your audience to remember.

Step 3. Design your research paper PPT presentation:

• Use a clean and professional design that complements your research topic.
• Choose readable fonts, consistent formatting, and a limited color palette.
• Opt for PowerPoint presentation services if slide design is not your strong side.

Step 4. Put content on slides:

• Follow the outline above to structure your presentation effectively; include key sections and topics.
• Organize your content logically, following the flow of your research paper.

Step 5. Final check:

• Proofread your slides for typos, errors, and inconsistencies.
• Ensure all visuals are clear, high-quality, and properly labeled.

Step 6. Save and share:

• Save your presentation and ensure compatibility with the equipment you’ll be using.
• If necessary, share a copy of your presentation with the audience.

By following these steps, you can create a well-organized and visually appealing research paper presentation PowerPoint that effectively conveys your research findings to the audience.

What to include and what not to include in your presentation

In addition to the must-know PowerPoint presentation recommendations, which we’ll cover later in this article, consider the following do’s and don’ts when you’re putting together your research paper presentation:

• Focus on the topic.
• Be brief and to the point.
• Attract the audience’s attention and highlight interesting details.
• Use only relevant visuals (maps, charts, pictures, graphs, etc.).
• Use numbers and bullet points to structure the content.
• Make clear statements regarding the essence and results of your research.

Don’ts:

• Don’t write down the whole outline of your paper and nothing else.
• Don’t put long, full sentences on your slides; split them into smaller ones.
• Don’t use distracting patterns, colors, pictures, and other visuals on your slides; the simpler, the better.
• Don’t use too complicated graphs or charts; only the ones that are easy to understand.
• Now that we’ve discussed the basics, let’s move on to the top tips for making a powerful presentation of your research paper.

8 tips on how to make research paper presentation that achieves its goals

You’ve probably been to a presentation where the presenter reads word for word from their PowerPoint outline. Or where the presentation is cluttered, chaotic, or contains too much data. The simple tips below will help you summarize a 10 to 15-page paper for a 15 to 20-minute talk and succeed, so read on!

Tip #1: Less is more

You want to provide enough information to make your audience want to know more. Including details but not too many and avoiding technical jargon, formulas, and long sentences are always good ways to achieve this.

Tip #2: Be professional

Avoid using too many colors, font changes, distracting backgrounds, animations, etc. Bullet points with a few words to highlight the important information are preferable to lengthy paragraphs. Additionally, include slide numbers on all PowerPoint slides except for the title slide, and make sure it is followed by a table of contents, offering a brief overview of the entire research paper.

Tip #3: Strive for balance

PowerPoint slides have limited space, so use it carefully. Typically, one to two points per slide or 5 lines for 5 words in a sentence are enough to present your ideas.

Tip #4: Use proper fonts and text size

The font you use should be easy to read and consistent throughout the slides. You can go with Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri, or a combination of these three. An ideal text size is 32 points, while a heading size is 44.

Tip #5: Concentrate on the visual side

A PowerPoint presentation is one of the best tools for presenting information visually. Use graphs instead of tables and topic-relevant illustrations instead of walls of text. Keep your visuals as clean and professional as the content of your presentation.

Tip #6: Practice your delivery

Always go through your presentation when you’re done to ensure a smooth and confident delivery and time yourself to stay within the allotted limit.

Tip #7: Get ready for questions

Anticipate potential questions from your audience and prepare thoughtful responses. Also, be ready to engage in discussions about your research.

Tip #8: Don’t be afraid to utilize professional help

If the mere thought of designing a presentation overwhelms you or you’re pressed for time, consider leveraging professional PowerPoint redesign services . A dedicated design team can transform your content or old presentation into effective slides, ensuring your message is communicated clearly and captivates your audience. This way, you can focus on refining your delivery and preparing for the presentation.

Lastly, remember that even experienced presenters get nervous before delivering research paper PowerPoint presentations in front of the audience. You cannot know everything; some things can be beyond your control, which is completely fine. You are at the event not only to share what you know but also to learn from others. So, no matter what, dress appropriately, look straight into the audience’s eyes, try to speak and move naturally, present your information enthusiastically, and have fun!

If you need help with slide design, get in touch with our dedicated design team and let qualified professionals turn your research findings into a visually appealing, polished presentation that leaves a lasting impression on your audience. Our experienced designers specialize in creating engaging layouts, incorporating compelling graphics, and ensuring a cohesive visual narrative that complements content on any subject.

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• Presenting techniques
• 50 tips on how to improve PowerPoint presentations in 2022-2023 [Updated]
• Present financial information visually in PowerPoint to drive results
• Keynote VS PowerPoint

• Design Tips

8 rules of effective presentation

• Business Slides

Employee training and onboarding presentation: why and how

How to structure, design, write, and finally present executive summary presentation?

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Conference Presentations

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This resource provides a detailed overview of the common types of conference papers and sessions graduate students can expect, followed by pointers on presenting conference papers for an audience. 

Types of conference papers and sessions

Panel presentations are the most common form of presentation you will encounter in your graduate career. You will be one of three to four participants in a panel or session (the terminology varies depending on the organizers) and be given fifteen to twenty minutes to present your paper. This is often followed by a ten-minute question-and-answer session either immediately after your presentation or after all of the speakers are finished. It is up to the panel organizer to decide upon this framework. In the course of the question-and-answer session, you may also address and query the other panelists if you have questions yourself. Note that you can often propose a conference presentation by yourself and be sorted onto a panel by conference organizers, or you can propose a panel with a group of colleagues. Self-proposed panels typically have more closely related topics than conference-organized panels.

Roundtables feature an average of five to six speakers, each of whom gets the floor for approximately five to ten minutes to speak on their respective topics and/or subtopics. At times, papers from the speakers might be circulated in advance among the roundtable members or even prospective attendees.

Workshops feature one or a few organizers, who usually give a brief presentation but spend the majority of the time for the session facilitating an activity that attendees will do. Some common topics for these sessions typically include learning a technology or generating some content, such as teaching materials.

Lightning talks (or Ignite talks, or Pecha Kucha talks) are very short presentations where presenters' slide decks automatically advance after a few seconds; most individual talks are no longer than 5 minutes, and a lightning talk session typically invites 10 or more presenters to participate over the course of an hour or two rather than limiting the presenters like a panel presentation. A lightning talk session will sometimes be held as a sort of competition where attendees can vote for the best talk. 

SIGs (Special Interest Groups) are groups of scholars focused on a particular smaller topic within the purview of the larger conference. The structure of these sessions varies by conference and even by group, but in general they tend to be structured either more like a panel presentation, with presenters and leaders, or more like a roundtable, with several speakers and a particular meeting agenda. These styles resemble, respectively, a miniconference focusing on a particular topic and a committee meeting. 

Papers with respondents are structured around a speaker who gives an approximately thirty-minute paper and a respondent who contributes their own thoughts, objections, and further questions in the following fifteen minutes. Finally, the speaker gets that same amount of time to formulate their reply to the respondent.

Poster presentations ask participants to visually display their ideas on a research poster, which is typically displayed with other research posters in a specific area at a conference. The poster needs to be understandable on its own (without the author) as viewers sometimes look through the posters outside the bounds of the poster session, which is a scheduled period of time where poster authors stand with their posters and engage viewers in conversation about the work. Research posters have long tended to follow common templates for design, but in recent years some scholars have begun challenging these templates for improved usability (for example, the Better Poster campaign as described here  or the APA template based on the original, here.

You can read more about research posters on our resource here .

Presenting the conference paper

Aim to take less time than you are given! If your presentation slot is 15 minutes, aim for 13 or 14 when you practice. A little leeway and a slightly shorter presentation is a courtesy to your audience and to your fellow presenters, and will not at all imply that you are unprepared or unprofessional — in fact, being able to keep well within your allotted time is the mark of a good presenter.

Make sure you speak slowly and clearly, using accessibility aids if available such as a microphone or closed captioning on a slide deck. Many presenters have begun bringing accessibility copies of their talks, which are printed transcripts of the talk using a larger font for audience members who need them. It is also becoming increasingly common for presenters at conferences to share their slides and copies of their talk via a shortened link or QR code found on the bottom of the slides so that audiences may access them later or even while they are in your session.

The conventions for presentation differ based on field. Some fields tend toward reading papers aloud with very little audiovisual accompaniment; others use slide decks; others speak extemporaneously. You can find out more about typical practices in your field by attending conferences yourself and by asking mentors. Generally, you will be able to improve the accessibility of your presentation if you have a visual accompaniment and prepared remarks.

Even in fields where presenters tend to read papers verbatim, it is rarely a good idea to bring a paper from a class or another research paper you have written without editing it for an oral presentation. Seminar papers tend to be too long to read in 15 minutes, and often lead to graduate students surpassing their time limits. Moreover, research papers are meant to be read — they lack the kinds of repetition and simple sentence structure that are more beneficial to listeners. Finally, conference presentations do not serve the same purposes as most class papers — typically in a class, you're expected to show that you have understood the material, but at a conference, listeners are more interested in hearing what contributions you have that might help them in their own research. It's typical to move the bulk of your literature review to an appendix or another document so that you can discuss other scholarship in the area if it comes up in the Q&A, but during your presentation you're left free to focus on your own methods and findings. (Many presenters will even say: "I'm skipping a lot of [X material] for the sake of time, but I'm happy to discuss it later with anyone who's interested.")

Since you will present your paper orally, you may repeat important points and say more about the structure of the essay than a written submission to a journal (or a paper for your undergraduate or graduate courses) would require. This often means signposting orally when you are moving to a new section of the paper or when you are shifting to a new idea. The thesis of your paper should come early in your presentation to give listeners a clear understanding of what is to follow. At this point, you may also overview or forecast your paper and tell listeners how you will move from one argument to the next. It is generally advised to quickly summarize your important points in a bulleted list at the end of your presentation to remind everyone of the two or three most essential arguments or findings.

If you use a slide presentation, you may want to follow the guidelines presented in the OWL resource, Designing an Effective PowerPoint Presentation .

Presenting Research Paper: Learning the steps

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Scholarly Publishing

• Introduction
• Choosing Publishers - Considerations and risks
• Making your thesis into a book
• Which conference to attend

Evaluating conferences

Attending conferences, publication counting.

• Conference rankings

Professional sites

Conference directories, conference papers/proceedings.

• When choosing a journal
• Journals selection/ evaluation
• Open Research guide
• UOM Researcher publishing support
• Author Profiles

Which conference to attend?

• Think, Check, Attend

The Think, Check, Attend checklist includes nine questions to ask about organisers and sponsors of conferences, six questions about the agenda of the conferences and the editorial committee, and four more about the conference proceedings.

As a first step, try completing the Conference Checker form.

Ensure that you protect yourself and publish only in reputable and recognised conferences. You may have limited time and budget at your disposal. Therefore always evaluate carefully if the conference you are considering is right for you. Some guiding questions are presented below.

• What is the research field of the conference?
• How frequent do the conference occur?
• Who will be attending the conference? ~ Academics; ~ Administrators; ~Counselors; ~ Educators; ~ Social Scientists; ~ Researchers
• Which conferences do others in your communities of practices attend?
• How many people get together at this conference?
• How likely is it that a paper might get accepted for the conference program?
• How is the conference viewed by your colleagues or peers?
• Are abstracts released as published abstracts?
• Are paper submissions sent out for peer review?
• Will conference papers be published in proceedings afterwards?
• Why are you considering this conference?

Selecting a conference

It is just as important to evaluate which conferences to focus on as it is to evaluate the integrity of journals.

Evaluate conferences - use Think, Check, Attend

Attend conferences as a method of staying current and testing new work . You can also network with colleagues in your research field. Presenting at conferences have the added benefit of personalising your work and providing a face and voice  to it. You can use it to test how your work is received and use the feedback received to build your work further before aiming to publish in journals and other forms of academic publishing.

• There are several ways in which articles in conference proceedings may be accredited. Both hinge on peer review.
• Check if conference proceedings gets published and if you will get recognised for your work.
• You might need to submit the completed paper for pre-conference peer review. Some of the papers are then selected for presentation and publication.
• Other conferences invites post-conference submission for peer-review.
• If this is allowed, get your conference paper or poster more visible after the conference by posting links to it on your blog and social media profiles.

Read about the value of conferences

To have a conference publication counted and recognised as an academic research output in Australia, the following definitions are worth noting.

For the purposes of ERA , research is defined as the creation of new knowledge and/or the use of existing knowledge in  new and creative ways to generate new concepts, methodologies, inventions and understandings. This could include synthesis of previous research so it produces new and creative outputs.

Publication data collected for the Higher Education Research Data Collection (HERDC) publication component recognises four traditional publication categories: (Eligible publications are defined in the HERDC specifications for the given year)

A1 - Books (as authored research)

B1 - Chapters in Scholarly Books

C1 - Articles in Scholarly Refereed journals

E1 - Conference publication - Full paper - Refereed

Not counted

• book reviews
• letters to the editor
• non-scholarly, non-research articles
• articles in newspapers and popular magazines
• reviews of art exhibitions, concerts and theatre productions; medical case histories or data reports, that are not full journal articles
• commentaries and brief communications of original research that are not subject to peer review
• articles designed to inform practitioners in a professional field, such as a set of guidelines or the state of knowledge in a field)
• papers that appear only in a volume handed out or sold to conference participants (e.g. “Program and Abstracts” books)
• invited papers
• papers presented at minor conferences, workshops or seminars that are not regarded as having national significance
• conference papers assessed only by an editorial board
• conference papers accepted for presentation (and publication) on the basis of peer review of a submitted extract or abstract only
• one page abstracts or summaries of poster presentations )

Core Rankings

The CORE Conference Ranking provides assessments of major conferences in the computing disciplines. The rankings are managed by the CORE Executive Committee, with periodic rounds for submission of requests for addition or reranking of conferences. Decisions are made by academic committees based on objective data requested as part of the submission process.

Conferences are assigned to one of the following categories:

A* - flagship conference (leading venue in a discipline area)

A – excellent conference (highly respected in a discipline area)

B – good conference (well regarded in a discipline area)

C – other ranked conference (venues meet minimum standards)

• Australasian (audience primarily Australians/ New Zealanders)
• Unranked – no ranking decision yet
• National – (runs primarily in a single country, Chairs from that country – not sufficiently known to be ranked)
• Regional – (similar to National – may cover a region)

Rankings are determined by citation rates, acceptance rates, visibility and track record of the hosts, the management of the technical program, etc.

If you follow a particular research community or professional association, these bodies often promote events and conferences to their members.

Some of these bodies are listed below.

• Australian Academy of the Humanities
• The Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers (ACEMS)
• Engineers Australia
• Institute of Public Accountants
• Migration Institute of Australia
• School Library Association of Victoria

There are vetted tools to help researchers identify recognised conferences in their respective fields.

Further there are conference portals and -directories created by companies with potential commercial interests in creating the lists and promoting the conferences. Always evaluate information sources used to make strategic decisions carefully.

Directories and databases (Library subscriptions)

Commercial conference directories.

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What Makes a Great Conference Paper: A Step-by-Step Guide

A conference paper is both a presentation and a paper. A scholar is invited or selected to present their research at a conference, and will prepare a paper to accompany that presentation. In some fields, conference papers are published as part of the conference proceedings, either before or after they are presented at the conference. In other fields, only abstracts are published in the conference proceedings. These abstracts help conference attendees decide which sessions to attend, which is especially important when there are concurrent sessions. Presenters may be asked to provide a copy of their conference paper to the person moderating their session, to help him/her facilitate discussion. Other times, writing a conference paper is simply an intermediate step for the author, with the final goal being the conference presentation. In these cases, the researcher will usually say they are "giving or presentation" or "giving a talk", rather than "presenting a paper".

Here we will go through the steps of putting together a great conference paper and presentation.

Step 1: Keep in mind the benefits of presenting at a conference

A major benefit of presenting at a conference is the opportunity to connect with people who work on similar topics. By presenting your work in progress, you can get feedback that helps identify and address shortcomings, and/or helps focus the overall research project. This feedback will help strengthen your work before it is submitted for publication through a rigorous peer-review process , and/or submitted for consideration by a thesis committee, selection committee, or tenure committee.

Therefore, one of the major goals of your conference presentation and paper should be to facilitate conversations with colleagues working in related areas. This may involve highlighting unexpected connections, or problems that you are still working through.

By presenting yourself and your work in a professional setting, you are introducing yourself to a room full of people who might be able to help you with your career goals. There will likely be people at the same career stage with insight to share, and people recruiting applicants for graduate school, post-doctoral positions, faculty positions, and other professional opportunities. A good conference presentation can easily cause them to seek you out for additional conversation.

Step 2: Know Your Audience

Think about why people have decided to attend your chosen conference, and your assigned session within the conference. This will help you decide what concepts you need to explain in detail, and what concepts your audience will already be familiar with. Time is almost always a major limitation for conference presentations, while space (and retaining the reader's interest) is a limitation for conference papers and abstracts. Do your absolute best to hit the "sweet spot" where your paper, presentation, and abstract seem familiar enough for your audience to take interest right away, yet novel enough for them to remain engaged.

While some conferences will cover a broad range of topics (e.g. genetics), your specific session will likely be more focused (e.g. genetic modification with CRISPR-Cas9). Know that your audience will have multiple opportunities to learn specifics about the topics that are common to your session, so you should focus on explaining aspects that are specific to your work.

Introduce your topic in a way that appeals to the broadest audience at your particular conference. For example, at a conference focusing on climate change, you might start with how CRISPR-Cas9 technology can be used to modify crop plants to better tolerate climate change. At a conference focusing on genetic diversity, you might start with how CRISPR-Cas9 technology can be used to better understand how specific genetic changes affect plant phenotypes.

Presenting your work so that it appeals to shared interests will help facilitate conversation.

Step 3: Plan for your time limit and your word limit

Conference presentations have very specific time limits, typically 10-20 minutes with a few minutes for questions from the audience. If you go over your allocated time, you will either lose you time for questions (and lose the opportunity to make useful connections), be interrupted by the moderator, steal time from other presenters who have worked hard to stay within the time limit, and/or cause the session to run overtime. None of these are good options. Be courteous and make every effort to stay within the time limit for your presentation.

For a conference paper, the consequences of going over the designated word limit are less dire. However, staying within the word limit for your paper will help you stay within the time limit for your presentation. In general, it takes 2 to 2.5 minutes to read one page of double-spaced text aloud at a reasonable pace.

Plan for the limited time and space. It is better to explain a few topics clearly than to explain many topics poorly.

Step 4: Focus on the big picture

In a 10-minute presentation, you can reasonably cover one big idea. For a 20-minute presentation, you might be able to cover two big ideas. Start with the "big picture", so that everyone can get a basic understanding of why your research is important. Then add enough detail so that people who are knowledgeable about your field can clearly see that you are also knowledgeable, that your study is well designed, and that your conclusions are based on solid evidence.

You may have a lot of results that you are excited to share. Do not share them all in your presentation. Instead, share some of your results with a reasonable amount of detail, then briefly summarize other exciting results in a concise list. This can help generate questions from the audience, and people who are interested in additional detail can easily find you to continue the conversation. After your session is over, stay near the front to see if anyone approaches you with questions. Chat with the other presenters or the moderator. Make sure that your email address is correct in the conference proceedings, and check your email during breaks.

Step 5: Use appropriate visual aids

Follow the conventions of your field for showing data, calculations, graphs, etc. Make sure that everything is clearly labeled, and expect some people to take pictures of your slides. (In some competitive fields, this unfortunately means that you may want to exclude a few key details until you are close to publication.) A good rule of thumb is to spend 1-2 minutes per slide, although this will depend on how much information is included in each slide.

Your slides should complement what you are saying, not repeat what you are saying. Essential labels must be included, but I otherwise recommend limiting the text. A brief title can indicate what is shown on the slide, while an additional line of text might highlight a key conclusion. A list of bullet points might also be appropriate. Use large font.

For scholars who are communicating in a second language (often English), the same rules apply. If you are nervous about the audience understanding you, use clearly labeled diagrams, graphs, and other visual aids to help convey the important points.

Visual aids can also help introduce the "big picture" to the broadest possible audience. It may be appropriate to use stock photos of glaciers, baby animals, hospital patients, etc. Many high-quality scientific images are also available to share through Creative Commons .

Step 6: Write, practice speaking, and revise

Start with an outline of what you want to cover in your allotted time. For a typical 10- to 15-minute presentation, it should be a short list. Also note how much time you expect to spend on each topic (e.g. 2 minutes for introduction, 2 minutes for methods, 4 minutes for results, 2 minutes for conclusions and future directions).

Once you have a basic outline, start writing. I recommend writing one section at a time, starting with the introduction or the section you feel most confident about. Sketch out your visual aids. When you have a few good paragraphs, practice reading aloud with your best "engaging speaker voice". Read with expression, emphasize the important concepts, point to your visual aids, and pause at appropriate times so the audience can digest what they heard.

After the first few readings, you will likely want to edit to improve flow. Once you feel moderately good about your delivery, time yourself. Consider the time limit for your presentation, and decide whether you are happy with your use of time. Revise as necessary. (You can also talk faster, but a top priority should be to deliver a clear presentation.) Repeat this process until you are reasonably happy with each section, and then with the overall presentation.

Next, practice with an audience. (Colleagues who will also be giving conference presentations are often a good choice.) Make eye contact. Be an engaging speaker. Time yourself. Listen to feedback from your audience about what was and wasn't clear, and revise again.

Putting together a great conference paper and presentation is a lot of work, but it is one of the best ways to connect with people who might be able to help you with your research and your career.

How to Write a High-Quality Conference Paper

Presenting and submitting conference papers at seminars and academic conferences is a crucial part of academic life, especially for early-career researchers. These events offer attending scholars and researchers a great opportunity to meet and exchange ideas and perspectives on their work. Therefore, when organizers issue a call for submission of conference papers, researchers must try to participate by submitting their papers. When published, these conference proceedings go on to serve as essential academic and research resources for students and early-career researchers.   

Table of Contents

• Why are conference papers important?  
• Difference between conference papers and journal papers  

Research methodology

Findings/ results.

• Writing a high-quality conference paper  

Why are conference papers important?

Conferences offer an excellent opportunity for researchers to share their work with wider audiences through conference papers, receive feedback, and network with other researchers. They also serve as a stepping stone to publishing in peer-reviewed journals, as they allow researchers to refine their ideas and receive insights from peers and mentors before submitting a manuscript for publication. Additionally, presenting research at conferences can not only help establish one’s credibility and reputation as a thought leader in a particular field. Still, it can also lead to new collaborations, exciting research opportunities, and even job offers or promotions.  

Difference between conference papers and journal papers

Compared to journal papers, conference papers are usually short and aim to present initial findings and analysis of ongoing research. Journal papers, on the other hand, tend to be longer and more detailed and are screened through a peer-review process. Depending on the type of presentation that you are going to give at the conference or depending on your specific role, conference papers can be customized as respondent (speaker and respondent roll out presentations), panel (a few speakers speak for a designated period with a discussant), poster (visual presentation), roundtable (few speakers speak with time limits) and workshops (scope for a detailed presentation).   

Tips on writing a conference paper

Writing an impactful conference paper requires a careful blend of good research and clarity in writing. To be accepted on submission, researchers must ensure that they follow the specific guidelines laid out by organizers. A typical conference paper usually begins with a title page, followed by the abstract, an examination of the research problem, the methodology followed and the principal conclusions. It must include the following elements:  

This page should provide the title of the conference paper, your name and credentials, the institution you are working with, and the date of submission. It must also succinctly convey the crux of your research study.  

An essential component of the conference paper, this section must provide a brief synopsis that includes the aims and objectives of your study, methodology, research findings and principal conclusions. Ensure that the length of the abstract is in accordance with the guidelines provided by the conference committee.  

This section is important for conference organizers to assess your paper, and therefore, it must be presented clearly, concisely, and accurately.  

The main findings should be clearly stated, drawing on evidence-based conclusions. Tables and figures are recommended as they help convey complex data more effectively.   

Ensure that you accurately list references to the work you have cited. Most conference organizers have specific formats for citations and references, so do check before submitting your conference paper.  

Writing a high-quality conference paper

• Focus on the audience profile: When writing a conference paper, it is essential to keep the audience in mind. This will help you write your paper in a more engaging and impactful way. Experts suggest keeping in mind both the broader research questions that are sought to be addressed in the conference and the fundamental issues in the primary or related field of study – this will go a long way in helping you link your research to these aspects and consequently, enable you to connect more effectively with audiences.  
• Keep your writing structured and organized. It is essential to organize conference papers logically and convincingly. Focus on the key aspects of your study, and provide solid examples and illustrations to strengthen your argument and make it more attractive to those present.  
• Reading aloud : Experts suggest reading your conference paper aloud several times. This technique helps you identify possible errors in language and grammar and brings clarity to your ideas and presentation.  
• Conference guidelines: It is important to ensure that you follow the guidelines, structure, format, and length requested by conference organizers. This helps ensure that your conference paper is accepted upon submission without too many changes and alterations. 

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Related Reads:

• What are Journal Guidelines on Using Generative AI Tools
• How Long Should a Chapter Be?
• How to Use Paperpal to Generate Emails & Cover Letters?
• How to Write a Scientific Paper in 10 Steps 

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Conference Paper Format and Style Guidelines

Published on 23 Jun 2022

There are many different ways to write a conference paper. Most journals have their own requirements around specific length, document type, and the font details of pieces being submitted for publishing.

However, there are certain details that are commonly found in conference papers. Most are brief in length, attempting to explain complex concepts using simple, concise language. They typically include the article’s purpose and objectives, research methods, findings/results, conclusions, and references. 

The information covered in a conference paper is closely-related to the oral presentation that the author is hoping to make at an academic conference. These papers are often written in a format that will “match” the oral presentation with a goal to communicate a research project and its main findings, and to solicit feedback and generate interest in the work being done.

This article will define a conference research paper and describe its purpose, formats, structure and provide tips on how to write the best conference research paper possible. 

What is a conference research paper?

A conference research paper is a piece of writing that an author submits to conference organizers. The papers offer a preview of the work the researcher wants to present to let others in their field know about it and solicit feedback that could generate ideas for improvement.

These papers are submitted for review in advance of the conference. This process begins with a call-for-papers, when a conference organizing committee sends out an invitation to academics in hopes of generating multiple submissions of content to be presented at their event. These invitations can be sent via email or posted to a conference announcement website. Then, the organizing committee conducts a thorough review process to confirm the legitimacy of the work being submitted. Then, the work is either approved or rejected, and those accepted become part of the conference programme and the authors are scheduled to present at the conference .

When the event concludes, these conference papers are combined into a conference proceedings document that is often published and kept as a written record of the event. 

What is the best conference paper format?

The most commonly used conference paper formats start with a title page and abstract and go on to describe the research being conducted and the methodology being used. Conference papers should be well-structured and concise, free of grammatical errors with references formatted based on requirements set out in the call-for-papers.

How to structure a conference paper

Conference papers should be structured around the prime objectives of the research being conducted and the summary of its findings. Most conference papers start by introducing the purpose of the research, the methodology, the results of the study, and references of the sources used. 

Here are the elements that are typically included in a conference paper: 

The title page

The title page is used to identify the main pieces of information needed in order to identify and evaluate a conference paper. It includes the title of the paper, which should clearly identify the focus of the research being presented. The title page should also include the author’s name, credentials, the research institution they’re affiliated with, the submission date, and the name of the conference for which the paper is being submitted. 

While the exact format that the conference is looking for should be described in the call-for-papers sent out by event organizers, you can find templates for conference paper title pages online. Here is one example of an APA style title page you can reference. 

The abstract

Conference papers begin with an abstract. An abstract is a short summary of the prime objective of your research, your hypothesis, the way you plan to conduct the study, the results, and the conclusions. Most abstracts are one or two paragraphs and kept under 250 words, but it’s not always the case so it’s best to check the guidelines provided by the conference organizers. 

The research methodology

In order for conference organizers to review and evaluate a conference paper, they must understand the methods used by the researcher to conduct the study being presented. Include a section in your paper that clearly (but briefly) describes your methodology, including any dominant theories that the methods are based on. 

The results

Clearly outline the results of the study, drawing data-driven conclusions. Present the insights uncovered by the research and how they can be used to advance your field of study. This will generate interest from other researchers in your field, potentially leading to partnerships or funding opportunities down the road. 

Your research results should take up about one-third of your conference paper, so for a 10-page paper, this section should be no longer than 3.5 pages. Whenever possible, display quantitative results in table format to make it easy for readers to understand. 

The references

Most conferences will clearly outline the type of references they expect in their call-for-papers or advertisement soliciting research submissions. Follow these guidelines to reference the work used to inform your research. 

Most events will request APA, MLA or Chicago-style formatting, but be prepared to reference any of the common formats. As a general rule, APA is most often used in education, psychology and sciences, MLA is used in the humanities, and Chicago style is used in business, history and fine arts. 

Tips to write a conference paper

1. focus on the abstract.

The abstract is the first thing academics look at when evaluating a piece of research. If your paper is accepted, you will be presenting your work to a group of your peers, and this abstract is their preview to the information that will be discussed. You’ll want to make it clear, concise, and interesting to read. 

This is also what conference organizers use to categorize different streams of work within the conference, so it’s important that your focus and subject matter is clearly defined and easy to determine. This will ensure you’re placed alongside researchers with a related field of study. 

Begin your abstract by defining the problem you hoped to solve when you began your research. Then, describe how you went about studying that problem before presenting your research findings and how they help solve the problem. 

2. Create a logical flow

Before you start writing, take some time to create an outline that follows a logical, cohesive flow of information. Review your research and determine the most important things you want to share in your presentation, and create your outline based on this list. An outline will help you stay focused and organized, and will make creating the abstract a breeze. 

In your outline, you should also plan to include data points that back up your conclusions to make your paper strong and convincing. 

3. Be careful of length

Look into the structure of the conference and find out the length of the presentations. This is usually stated in the conference posting, but if not, you can use the following guidelines. Most conferences allot 10-20 minutes for each oral presentation, and each page of writing takes about 2 minutes to read. Based on these numbers, a conference paper should not exceed 10 pages. 

4. Follow the format guidelines

Conference organizing committees will most of the time set specific guidelines for researchers to follow in their submissions. These guidelines will include the preferred file type (.doc, .rtf. .pdf etc), the font type and size, the spacing, where they want the page numbers, the length of the abstract, reference format, and more.

This simplifies the review process by allowing the reviewers to focus solely on the paper content, rather than having to decipher references or look for specific pieces of information.

5. Read it out loud

To keep your conference paper short, it’s important that every word counts. To keep your paper free of fluff and unnecessary words, read it out loud to yourself and remove or revise anything that isn’t optimal.

Reading out loud will also help you confirm that the information you’re presenting is organized into a logical flow that builds up support for your overall argument. Sometimes words look good typed out on a screen, but they don’t sound convincing or appropriate when spoken out loud. Since this paper is an overview of the research you hope to present in an oral presentation at a conference, it should sound convincing when you read it aloud. 

6. Write for your audience

Remember that you are writing for academic researchers who are knowledgeable in your field. 

Academic writing uses a more formal tone than a blog or news article. It is free of personal opinions or anecdotes, and does not include any jargon, cliches, or slang. Academic writing maintains a clear focus on the main area of research, and every sentence should resonate with your audience of researchers. 

Every piece of data used in a piece of academic writing should be backed-up with data. Researchers reviewing your work expect to be presented with data-driven insights that can be quantifiably verified. 

Reference everything. Not only does this add weight and legitimacy to your work, but it also shows respect for the researchers who came before you.  

Useful resources for conference papers

There are many resources available to help you write and format your conference papers. These are often free, and easily-accessible online. Here are a few to check out:

Overleaf is an online LaTeX editor that provides known journals and conference paper formats. It is a helpful resource but can be difficult for those that are not very technical. 

A friend to all writers, Grammarly provides free editing and grammar checks through a simple AI-powered platform available through the web or on your mobile device. There are free or paid versions available, depending on the level of functionality you’re looking for. 

Evernote can simplify and organize your research by making it easy to collect and share notes, and keep them with you wherever you go. 

Citationsy is a relatively new application that automates the process of creating and formatting references. This can be a significant time saver and remove one of the less exciting elements of academic writing.

If you’re at the stage in your research where you’re ready to write a conference paper and apply to present at an academic conference, congratulations! This means you have conducted a significant amount of research and are ready to share it with your peers.

We hope you’ve found this article a good resource to help you write this paper. If there are any tips or pieces of information that we’ve missed, please let us know .

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• How to cite a conference paper in APA Style

Citing a Conference Paper in APA Style | Format & Examples

Published on November 6, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on December 4, 2023.

The format for citing conference papers in APA Style depends on whether the paper has been published, and if so, in what format. Note that a separate format exists for citing dissertations . You can cite a conference paper easily by using our free APA Citation Generator .

To cite a paper that has been presented at a conference but not published, include the author’s name, the date of the conference, the title of the paper (italicized), “Paper presentation” in square brackets, the name and location of the conference, and a URL or DOI if available.

Cite a conference paper in APA Style now:

Table of contents, citing a conference paper published in a journal, citing a conference paper published in a book, frequently asked questions about apa style citations.

Conference papers are sometimes published in journals. To cite one of these, use the same format as you would for any journal article .

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

Conference papers may also be collected in book form. In this case, you can cite one in the same way as you would cite a chapter from a book .

Include the DOI at the very end of the APA reference entry . If you’re using the 6th edition APA guidelines, the DOI is preceded by the label “doi:”. In the 7th edition , the DOI is preceded by ‘https://doi.org/’.

• 6th edition: doi: 10.1177/0894439316660340
• 7th edition: https://doi.org/ 10.1177/0894439316660340

APA citation example (7th edition)

Hawi, N. S., & Samaha, M. (2016). The relations among social media addiction, self-esteem, and life satisfaction in university students. Social Science Computer Review , 35 (5), 576–586. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894439316660340

In an APA journal citation , if a DOI (digital object identifier) is available for an article, always include it.

If an article has no DOI, and you accessed it through a database or in print, just omit the DOI.

If an article has no DOI, and you accessed it through a website other than a database (for example, the journal’s own website), include a URL linking to the article.

The abbreviation “ et al. ” (meaning “and others”) is used to shorten APA in-text citations with three or more authors . Here’s how it works:

Only include the first author’s last name, followed by “et al.”, a comma and the year of publication, for example (Taylor et al., 2018).

You may include up to 20 authors in a reference list entry .

When an article has more than 20 authors, replace the names prior to the final listed author with an ellipsis, but do not omit the final author:

Davis, Y., Smith, J., Caulfield, F., Pullman, H., Carlisle, J., Donahue, S. D., James, F., O’Donnell, K., Singh, J., Johnson, L., Streefkerk, R., McCombes, S., Corrieri, L., Valck, X., Baldwin, F. M., Lorde, J., Wardell, K., Lao, W., Yang, P., . . . O’Brien, T. (2012).

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Caulfield, J. (2023, December 04). Citing a Conference Paper in APA Style | Format & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved September 3, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/apa-examples/conference-paper/

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IBC Technical Papers: Inside the workings of the committee and conference

By David Davies 2024-09-02T16:07:00+01:00

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In the first of two articles about the IBC Technical Papers Programme, David Davies explores the workings of the committee which oversees the annual proposal and presentation processes, as well as some notable highlights from recent years.

The primary goal of the annual IBC Technical Papers Programme – which is to showcase original, novel research on solutions to real-world problems faced by the international broadcast and digital media industry – is easily explained and understood. But behind that transparent objective is a Technical Papers Committee that oversees a phenomenal amount of work every year, from the initial offer of papers through to selection, review and presentation during the IBC Conference.

Dr. Paul Entwistle

For the last eight of its 57 years, the Technical Papers Committee has been chaired by intellectual property and technology consultant Dr. Paul Entwistle, working closely alongside Dr. Nicolas Lodge, who runs his own technology consultancy, Lodgical Media. Entwistle first became involved in 2010 when he joined the review panel, whilst Lodge has been involved in the Technical Papers Programme in one capacity or another for the best part of three decades.

“Technical Papers is an opportunity for researchers and technology innovators to showcase their work among peers,” says Entwistle. “The breadth of technology covered by our industry is impressive, and not only can you debate the cutting edge details in your own field of expertise, you can also get a flavour of what is happening in the broader industry.”

Collectively, the papers typically address all sectors across the media, entertainment and technology industries, and are delivered by a blend of industry professionals, academics and R&D experts. Determining which papers are invited to be developed and submitted is a 20-strong committee whose “mixture of industry veterans and experts” encompasses a similarly diverse range of technologies and applications.

Read more  IBC2024: Innovation, talent and growth initiatives launched to drive global media industry

Novel technical disclosures

The annual Technical Papers schedule begins in January with the issuing of a ‘call for papers’ that invites the submission of short synopses from across the industry. Then, in February, the committee begins to sift through the proposals, which normally number in the hundreds.

The primary goal of the IBC Technical Papers Programme is to showcase original, novel research on solutions to real-world problems

Of the priorities which govern the selection process, Entwistle says: “We’re always looking for novel, unpublished technical disclosures that we think will be of interest to our audience. We work through them, trying to weed out as much product marketing as we can, and ultimately going through a process of ranking the synopses. We invite a modest number of the most promising entrants to produce papers, which are then the subject of a detailed peer review that includes providing feedback to the authors about how they can improve their papers. Finally, the best of the papers form the content of the Technical Papers conference, the programme for which is finalised in July.”

Of the characteristics which tend to define a first-class Technical Paper, Entwistle says that it will be about “something that is new, and will contain a detailed disclosure about the new thing and how it builds on what has gone before. Ideally, there should also be some quantitative characteristics that explain why it is as good as it is, and how it compares to other developments.”

“Novelty is important, of course,” adds Lodge. “But with there being a conference [as part of the programme], it’s also good to have papers that are entertaining and educational. We’re also looking for something that shows some potential for influencing the media technology industry, and very often we’ve been keen to have papers which demonstrate experimentally or by trials that a new service or system works and is suitable [for implementation].”

Some of the submissions, notes Entwistle, also incorporate case studies, so strictly speaking they might not be “a new invention, but might be a new implementation of a technology. That can be a very useful disclosure to the industry as well [in terms of explaining] how a team of people or companies collaborated, pulled a system together, and made it work – and the challenges they encountered along the way.”

At the conference, each paper selected for presentation is allocated 20 minutes for the authorial address, followed by five minutes or so for a Q&A. The Committee also works with an expert from the Institute of Engineering & Technology (IET) to choose the Best Paper from each year’s submissions, with recent Best Paper award recipients including ‘Enhancing sport with virtual reality’ and ‘Managing personal data when making recommendations’.

Last year’s Best Paper was awarded to ‘The use of 5G at the coronation of King Charles III’, which covered the collaboration between Strathclyde University’s Software Defined Radio team (StrathSDR), spin-out company Neutral Wireless, BBC and other key partners to deliver the world’s largest temporary private 5G standalone network , which was used by 20 leading broadcasters for the historic event in May 2023. Eight 5G cells were established along The Mall in London, providing “reliable and uncontested coverage” from Buckingham Palace to The Arch. The network delivered 1 Gbps of wireless connectivity, carrying HD video from wireless cameras to production centres worldwide.

“It was an extremely impressive piece of engineering that showcased how 5G has come of age, not only for delivering fast internet on your smartphone but also as a tool within the industry,” says Entwistle.

Read more  5G Innovation: Real World Breakthroughs from the 2023 Tech Paper

Class of 2024

From the original list of 327 proposals, around 40 were invited to produce an actual paper this year – 27 of which were selected for presentation at the conference, to be divided across a total of nine sessions (the full schedule can be accessed here).

Dr. Nick Lodge

There can be various reasons for a completed paper to not make it through to presentation at the conference, including a level of technical detail that might be off-putting to the general delegate. “It might be a very worthy paper, but contains a lot of mathematics,” suggests Lodge. “We are aiming for a [broader] audience, which is not always people who are specialists in particular areas of technology, so in some cases, it’s better to keep and publish the paper, but not include it in [the conference schedule].”

Avoiding content overlap can be another consideration, says Lodge: “Sometimes there are two papers which are both excellent but quite closely aligned [in topic], and obviously it would be tedious for an audience to sit through the same sort of content again. So in those instances, we’ll only allow the better one to be presented, but publish the other one as well so its content isn’t lost.”

The general feeling is that, once again, authors have delivered a superlative set of papers this year. “We’re really pleased with the quality of submissions, which seems to have been building and building post-Covid,” says Entwistle.

The range of topics covered is simply impressive. Lodge notes that in the Best of IBC 2019 publication, it was observed that about 50% of all synopses submitted that year “involved AI in some way. Now, five years later, we no longer bother to record this statistic” – a testament to how commonplace AI has become in media technology research and debate. But what has increased exponentially during that period is the comprehension of its potential applications, and at IBC 2024 attendees can expect to find out more about future implementations of Generative AI, in particular.

Volumetric video generation, media provenance, energy efficiency and video compression also feature prominently in the 2024 papers, which is explored further in the second part of this series.

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Happy hours, beer tasting and awards celebrations: Make the most of IBC2024’s networking opportunities

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‘Media Tech’s Got Talent’: Speakers, sessions and networking events unveiled for inaugural IBC2024 Talent Programme

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Esports Zone: Unlocked explores the future of esports and broadcasting at IBC2024

2024-09-03T09:00:00Z By John Maxwell Hobbs

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What not to miss at IBC2024

2024-08-30T14:59:00Z By Sheryl Hickey

IBC2024 offers abundant connections, knowledge and discoveries, so to ensure you have the most valuable experience, we’ve put together our top 10 list of the things you shouldn’t miss at this year’s world leading broadcasting media and tech show at Amsterdam’s RAI.

IBC2024 Accelerator Project: Connecting Live Performances of the Future with ULL-AVLM

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This groundbreaking IBC Accelerators 2024 project aims to develop a solution for delivering all data between venues, in sync, and by using 5G to unlock ultra-low latencies and enable synchronised and/or distributed performances between multiple locations - all connected by the public internet.

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NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) will host a conference call for investors at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) on Tuesday, October 15 th to review third-quarter results. Joaquin Duato, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Joseph J. Wolk, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Jessica Moore, Vice President, Investor Relations will host the call. The question and answer portion of the call will also include additional members of Johnson & Johnson’s executive team.

Investors and other interested parties can access the webcast/conference call in the following ways:

• The webcast and presentation material are accessible at Johnson & Johnson’s website www.investor.jnj.com . A replay of the webcast will be available approximately three hours after the conference call concludes.
• By telephone: for both “listen-only” participants and those financial analysts who wish to take part in the question-and-answer portion of the call, the telephone dial-in number in the U.S. is 877-869-3847. For participants outside the U.S., the dial-in number is 201-689-8261.
• A replay of the conference call will be available until approximately 12:00 a.m. on October 29 th . The replay dial-in number for U.S. participants is 877-660-6853. For participants outside the U.S., the replay dial-in number is 201-612-7415. The replay conference ID number for all callers is 13748405.
• The press release will be available at approximately 6:45 a.m. (Eastern Time) the morning of the conference call.
• Please refer to www.investor.jnj.com for a complete list of currently planned earnings webcast/conference calls. Please note the fourth-quarter date of Wednesday, January 22 nd , 2025.

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The past and present of thought experiments’ research at Glancy: bibliometric review and analysis

• Open access
• Published: 07 September 2024
• Volume 3 , article number  142 , ( 2024 )

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• Hartono Bancong 1  

In the development of physical theories, thought experiments play a crucial role. Research on this topic began in 1976 and has continued to the present. This study aims to provide a more complete picture of the progress of thought experiments over the past two decades. To achieve this, this study employs bibliometric mapping methods. A total of 679 published papers were analyzed, including articles (504), conference papers (92), and book chapters (83). This data was retrieved from the Scopus database. The study's findings reveal that research and publications on thought experiments are highly valued and have received significant attention over the past eight years. According to the findings, 90% of the top 20 source titles contributing to thought experiments are from journals in the first and second quartiles (Q1 and Q2). This quartile ranking shows the quality and significant influence of a journal. The geographical distribution indicates that the United States contributes the most to thought experiments research, with 213 documents, 2592 citations, and 47 links. We also identified several prospective keywords that could be the focus of future research, including artificial intelligence, physics education, fiction, God, theology, productive imagination, technology, speculative design, and critical design. Therefore, this study provides a thorough picture of thought experiment research trends and future directions of potential topics that can be the focus of future researchers.

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1 Introduction

Thought experiments (TEs) have a long history in science. Since Ernst Mach, the term TEs, a direct translation of the phrase Gedankenexperimente , has been widely discussed in the philosophy of science [ 18 ]. Thought and experiments are two components of TEs [ 4 , 18 , 29 ]. The thought element involves visualizing an imaginary world based on theory and experience, whereas the experimental aspect entails practical tasks in a physical laboratory, such as manipulating items and related variables. While some authors consider TEs to be mere arguments [ 24 ], others believe TEs are a form of fiction since their function is comparable to literary fiction in that both have a narrative framework by creating scenarios of occurrences from beginning to end [ 13 , 22 ]. However, unlike fiction, which frequently provides contradictory discourses, we believe that TEs should be logically and conceptually cohesive. TEs are structured imaginative actions based on the theory and experience of thought experimenters to achieve certain goals.

The contributions of TEs to the growth of scientific theories, particularly in physics, are essential. Physicists have employed TEs several times throughout history to either come up with new hypotheses or disprove previous ones. As the most representative examples, Newton used the TEs of cannonballs to support his hypothesis that the force of gravity is universal and the principal force of planetary motion, or Galileo used the TEs of free-falling bodies to disprove Aristotle's theory of gravity, which stated that the speed of falling objects is proportional to their weight. Galileo’s falling body, Newton's bucket and cannon, Maxwell's demon, and Schrodinger’s cat are just a few of the well-known TEs in physics [ 4 ]. These are only a few examples of the significant role TEs played in the development of scientific theories.

In the past 10 years, several works have studied TEs from the perspectives of history and philosophy of science [ 7 , 8 , 10 , 30 , 33 ]. Because most existing historical work on TEs focuses on individual TEs or individual accounts of TEs, reassessing the history of the philosophical debate on TEs becomes essential [ 33 ]. In the philosophy of science, historical debates regarding interactions between various philosophers or philosophical explanations across time in developed TEs are sometimes disregarded. Several studies have also used TEs as an imaginative tool in the classroom to teach science subjects. Velentzas and Halkia [ 37 ], for example, used TEs from Newton's Cannon to teach satellite physics. They then assert that TEs, as a teaching tool, can assist students in strengthening their syllogistic abilities and help them conceive scenarios beyond their everyday experience [ 37 ]. El Skaf and Palacios [ 12 ] have also systematically analyzed the epistemic role of TEs from Wheeler's demon and Geroch's engine, which gave rise to black hole thermodynamics. Recently, Bancong et al. [ 2 ] reported that physics teachers in Indonesia have a high awareness of the importance of TEs in learning physics, especially atomic theory and relativity, even though they lack skills in the pedagogic aspects of TEs. Therefore, Indonesian physics teachers also suggest using technology such as virtual reality to help visualize an imaginary world when performing TEs.

Although a number of studies on TEs from various perspectives have been conducted, no study has yet completely examined this field to look at the trend of this topic in recent years. Therefore, it becomes essential to conduct a bibliometric study of TEs over time based on authoritative databases like Scopus. Because of Scopus's comprehensive coverage of scholarly articles in the field of education [ 23 , 27 , 34 ], it was chosen as the database for this study. Scopus is also a popular resource for bibliometric research [ 23 , 28 ]. For this reason, we use data sources from the Scopus database to carry out the bibliometric method. Our study covers journal articles, conference papers, and book chapters from the last 20 years to provide a more complete view.

To highlight the significance of TEs research, we compare its growth to other scientific topics. While many scientific fields have seen growth over the past two decades, TEs research has also shown a unique and sustained increase in interest and publications. This trend contrasts sharply with the decline in research focus on traditional physics experiments [ 41 ]. Similarly, other topics in physics education, such as methodological issues, textbook analysis, and pre-service physics teachers, are also experiencing reduced research interest [ 25 ]. Additionally, the integration of TEs with emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, underscores their evolving relevance and potential for future research [ 21 ].

Therefore, this study aims to provide an up-to-date overview of trends in TEs research. The research questions in this study are as follows:

How is the growth of research output on the topic of TEs over the last 20 years?

Which source titles have contributed the most to the publication of papers on TEs in the last 20 years?

Who are the most prominent authors on the topic of TEs in the last 20 years?

Which countries have published the most articles on TEs over the past 20 years?

What are the most relevant keywords that can be found in the studies of TEs over the last 20 years?

2.1 Research design

This study aims to analyze the trends in TEs research over the past 20 years by using a bibliometric mapping method. To ensure a thorough analysis of recent trends and developments, this study focused on studies published between 2003 and 2022. This period was chosen because of significant advancements in research methodologies and bibliometric analysis tools in the early 2000s, as well as the consistent growth and comprehensive coverage of the Scopus database since that time. Bibliometric analysis is a well-known statistical method for examining and analyzing a large amount of scientific data on a certain topic [ 26 , 39 ]. Metrics studied in bibliometric research include annual publications, source titles, authors, institutions, nations, and keywords, covering data from primary, secondary, and tertiary journals over a specific time period. It should be noted that no ethical approval was required for this study as it did not involve humans or animals.

2.2 Data collection

In this study, data were gathered from the Scopus database ( https://www.scopus.com ). Scopus was chosen because it covers a wider range of documents than any other scientific database [ 23 , 28 , 35 ]. Scopus is the world's largest abstracting and indexing database, with 84 million records containing over 18.0 million open access items, including gold, hybrid gold, green, and bronze, as well as 10.9 million conference papers, 25.8 thousand active peer-reviewed journals, and over 7000 publishers [ 14 ]. In addition, Scopus covers a wider range of educational disciplines than other databases, such as the Web of Science (WoS) [ 23 , 27 , 34 ]. As a result, using the Scopus database enables researchers to shed light on areas that may not be covered in WoS.

Electronic data search and retrieval were conducted on February 25, 2023. Keyword search was set to include title, abstract, and keywords. The keyword search was set to include the title, abstract, and keywords. The combination of search strings, operators, and filters used in this study was TITLE-ABS-KEY ("Thought-experiments" AND "Science" OR "Physics"). Quotation marks were used to focus on documents containing this exact phrase, thus ensuring high relevance to the study's scope. The Scopus database retrieved 898 documents related to these keywords with full bibliographical information, including articles (67.04%), paper proceedings (10.13%), book chapters (10.02%), and other types of documents (12.81%). By using the Scopus filter, other types of publications (12.81%), including review articles, were excluded from the list of documents. The exclusion of review articles was intentional to focus on original research contributions that advance the field of TEs directly. Including reviews could confound the analysis as they often summarize existing research rather than introduce new findings. Therefore, concentrating on the three most prevalent types of documents—articles, conference papers, and book chapters—allowed for a clearer interpretation of trends and patterns in original research outputs over the specified period. Additionally, we limited the year of publication to studies published within the last 20 years (2003–2022) to ensure the relevance and currency of our analysis. After using a filtering process to eliminate papers that did not meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 679 articles were identified for bibliometric analysis. These articles included 504 articles, 92 book chapters, and 83 conference papers.

2.3 Data analysis

The data analysis process began with acquiring the necessary raw data by downloading it from the Scopus database in either comma-separated value (CSV) or research information system (RIS) format. For data analysis and visualization, we used VOSviewer and Microsoft Excel. VOSviewer, a sophisticated mapping tool, was employed to create collaborative networks for various variables and keywords, while Microsoft Excel was used for descriptive analysis, such as determining the number of articles published each year and identifying the most prolific source titles.

The network graphs in this study were generated using VOSviewer, based on co-authorship, co-occurrence, and citation data from Scopus. The analysis type focused on the co-occurrence of keywords and co-authorship, with a full counting method. Keywords with a minimum of four occurrences were included. The visualization settings in VOSviewer were mainly default, with the attraction parameter set to 2 and the repulsion parameter set to 0. These settings ensured that the most relevant and frequently occurring terms were highlighted, providing a clear overview of research trends and collaborations in the field of TEs over the past 20 years.

In this study, we explored the most productive publishers, the most referenced articles, the most productive authors, the most productive nations, and author keyword occurrences across time. An analysis of co-authorship and co-occurrence was performed at this stage. The analysis of co-authorship provides insights into the interactions between authors. This methodology was also used for metrics related to countries. For country attribution, we included all the countries of all authors involved in each publication, not just the corresponding author. This method ensures that all co-authors' contributions are acknowledged and provides a comprehensive representation of the global distribution of research. Co-occurrence analysis was employed as a means of investigating current keywords and their interrelationships with other phrases associated with TEs. Within this particular framework, the term “node size” refers to the frequency at which a certain keyword appears in comparison to other words. Additionally, interconnected nodes are visually represented by lines known as connections. The link establishes a connection between two nodes, while the width of the link signifies the intensity or potency of the connection between the aforementioned nodes [ 36 , 39 ].

In the context of network map visualization, nodes that exhibit a high degree of association are categorized into clusters. The clustering of items was performed using the Louvain algorithm, a popular method for community detection in large networks due to its efficiency and accuracy in handling large datasets [ 36 , 39 ]. This algorithm was chosen for its ability to uncover modular structures within large networks, which is particularly useful for identifying distinct research themes and collaboration groups in bibliometric data. Subsequently, a distinct color code was assigned to each cluster, wherein nodes within the same cluster exhibit a high degree of homogeneity. Therefore, this bibliometric mapping approach enabled researchers to discern patterns and emerging areas of interest throughout the timeframe spanning from 2003 to 2022. Figure 1 shows the stages in the process of collecting and analyzing data in this study.

The steps in collecting and analyzing the data

3.1 Statistics analysis

In this analysis, we use statistical data to observe differences in the number of articles published each year. The goal is to determine whether the quantity of publications on the topic of TEs has increased or decreased annually. Figure 2 illustrates the number of papers published over the last 20 years (2003–2022). As we can see, there has been an increase in the interest and attention of researchers, scholars, and experts in researching TEs. The growth started in 2004 and continued until 2006. The number of papers published then fluctuated between 2006 and 2015. The increase started again in 2015 and continued until 2021. The number of publications increased significantly in 2021, with 69 articles published. This growth demonstrates that research and publications on TEs are in high demand and have garnered significant attention globally in the last eight years despite a reduction in 2022. Although studies in this area are still ongoing, these findings indicate an annual growth in the writing and publication of TEs on Scopus.

Number of articles published each year

Statistical data are also used to see the number of source titles that have made the greatest contributions to TEs during the last 20 years. A total of 679 papers have been published from various sources with different types of documents in the form of articles (504), conference papers (92), and book chapters (83). According to statistical data in the Scopus database, publication in journals is very significant in publishing research on the topic of TEs, while publication in proceedings and book chapters with the main scope of TEs is not very significant. Therefore, researchers, academics, and experts are advised to submit their articles focused on TEs to journals rather than proceedings and chapter books. Table 1 lists the top 20 sources of scientific research publications covering the topic of TEs from 2003 to 2022.

As seen in Table 1 , 90% of the source titles contributing to the TEs topic are journals, with only one publishing conference proceedings. Philosophical studies ranks first, with 17 documents published in the last 20 years. This is followed by the AIP Conference Proceedings with 15 documents. The American Journal of Physics, Science and Education, and Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A have published 11 documents each. Other source titles, such as Synthese (10), Foundations of Science (9), Physics Teacher (9), Journal for General Philosophy of Science (8), and Philosophy of Science (8), also contributed to publishing TEs topics. Minds and Machines and Physics Education each published seven documents. Erkenntnis, European Journal of Physics, Physics Essays, and Religions each published six documents, Acta Analytica published five documents, while Axiomathes, Boston Studies in the Philosophy of and History of Science, and European Journal for Philosophy of Science each published four documents.

3.2 Bibliometric analysis

3.2.1 contributions of authors.

Table 2 shows the 10 most prolific authors based on the total number of published articles from 2003 to 2022. As shown in this list, Stuart is the most significant author with 7 papers (51 citations), followed by Bancong from Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar, Indonesia, with 5 papers (15 citations). Following Bancong, Fehige from the University of Toronto, Canada, has also published 5 articles. The majority of Fehige’s research focuses on TEs in the context of religion. In contrast to Fehige, Brown, also from the University of Toronto in Canada, has studied TEs through the lens of history and philosophy of science in several of his works (4 documents, 52 citations). Similarly, Buzzoni (3 documents, 15 citations) and El Skaf (3 documents, 29 citations) from Italy, discuss TEs from historical and philosophical perspectives of science. Meanwhile, Halkia and Velentzas from the University of Athens, Greece, have analyzed TEs thoroughly from an educational standpoint, with the number of documents being 4 and 86 citations.

3.2.2 Contributions of country

In the context of the leading countries, authors from 64 different countries/territories published a total of 679 documents. Table 3 lists the top 20 countries in terms of TE contributions based on the number of papers published. As shown, the United States contributes the most to TEs research, with 213 documents, 2592 citations, and 47 links. The number of papers is about three times that of the United Kingdom, which comes second (75 documents, 1016 citations, and 31 links). European countries continue to hold third to sixth place, with Germany publishing 50 documents with 634 citations, followed by Canada (43 documents, 410 citations, and 17 links), Italy (33 documents, 96 citations, 6 links), and the Netherlands (28 documents, 342 citations, and 12 links). This suggests that countries in America and Europe contribute the most to TEs. The Asian country that has contributed the most to TEs is China, with 18 documents, 286 citations, and 11 links, followed by India (14 documents), Japan (12 documents), and South Korea (12 documents), with 97, 111, and 27 citations, respectively. The three countries below these are European countries, with Austria having issued 10 documents related to TEs with a total of 135 citations, followed by Finland (9 documents, 31 citations) and Spain (9 documents, 47 citations).

3.2.3 Keywords

The results of a keyword analysis can be used in further investigation of the topic at hand. This study employs a minimum threshold of two occurrences of keywords in all research articles that were examined using VOSviewer. Figure 3 displays the 253 authors' keywords detected from 1990, which may be categorized into six distinct clusters. Cluster 1 is characterized by a red color, Cluster 2 by a green color, while Cluster 3 is distinguished by a blue color. In addition, Cluster 4 is characterized by a yellow color, Cluster 5 has a purple hue, and Cluster 6 is distinguished by a light blue shade. Each cluster is comprised of interconnected keywords that are visually represented by the same colors. It is important to note that the size and shape of the node are indicative of the frequency of its occurrences [ 36 , 39 ]. In other words, there is a positive correlation between the size of the node and the frequency of occurrences of these terms. Clustering is employed as a means to gain insights or a comprehensive understanding of bibliometric groupings, whereas image mapping serves the purpose of obtaining a holistic depiction of a bibliometric network.

Network visualization of TEs

Figure 3 shows Cluster 1 (red) with 68 items such as thought experiments, intuition, Science, Kant, Aristotle, Galileo, Platonism, personal identity, theology, fiction narrative, moral motivation, and neuroscience. Cluster 2 (green) consists of 57 categories, such as science fiction, philosophy of science, philosophy of physics, philosophical thought, epistemology, knowledge, scientific reasoning, experiments, models, and realism. Cluster 3 (blue) contains 41 items, such as consciousness, Maxwell's demon, Schrodinger's cat, quantum theory, entropy, uncertainty principle, quantum entanglement, quantum information, quantum physics, and Newton's bucket. Furthermore, cluster 4 (yellow) consists of 30 items: physics education, science education, visualization, special theory of relativity, history of physics, problem-solving, exploration, Einstein, relativity, and falsification. Cluster 5 (purple) consists of 29 items: imagination, ontology, physics, truth time, algorithm of discovery, artificial intelligence, ethics, nanotechnology, fiction, philosophy, and technology. Finally, cluster 6 (light blue) contains 16 categories, including popular science, fictionality, narrative, construction, sensation, a priori, story, Mach, memory, productive imagination, and schema.

Keywords in clusters 1 and 2 have a high number of occurrences and a high total link strength. The term thought experiment ranks first with 85 occurrences and a total link strength of 91. This is followed by the term thought experiment with 60 occurrences, a total link strength of 98, and several other keywords. The high number of occurrences and high total link strength indicate that scientific research publications on the topic of TEs in the 2003–2022 range indexed by Scopus have a strong and direct relationship with these keywords. Table 4 displays the ten keywords with the highest occurrence and overall link strength in the last 20 years on the topic of TEs.

VOSviewer, on the other hand, is also used to visualize the progress of keywords over a certain period. Figure 4 illustrates the overlay visualization of the TEs topic in the time range 2003 to 2022.

Overlay visualization of TEs

Figure 4 depicts the annual distribution of the number of articles containing keywords. The various colors represent the publication dates of the related papers where these keywords appear together. The data in Fig. 4 indicate that the most frequently used topics related to TEs from 2010 to 2014 were quantum theory, ethical naturalism, ethical naturalism, quantum mechanics, scientific discovery, and mental models. Then, from 2014 to 2018, keywords such as scientific reasoning, intuition, science education, computer simulation, history of science, and science fiction began to appear in the TEs topic. The hottest topics in TEs research are shown in yellow color, including fiction, artificial intelligence, God, theology, speculative design, critical design, and methods of case. These findings indicate that these keywords have gained popularity in recent years. It can be concluded that scholars have increasingly turned to research on the mentioned topics in recent years.

4 Discussion

The goal of this study is to use the bibliometric mapping method to examine the trend of studies on TEs during the last 20 years (2003–2022). According to the findings of the study, there has been an increase in the interest and attention of researchers, scholars, and professionals in studying TEs. Although research in this area is ongoing, these findings indicate an annual growth in the writing and publication of TEs on Scopus. This growth demonstrates that research and publications on TEs are in high demand and receive significant global attention.

Interestingly, 90% of the top 20 source titles contributing to TEs research are journals in the first quartile (Q1) and second quartile (Q2). Among these, 10 journals are in the highest quartile, Q1, and 8 journals are in Q2. The quartile level indicates that these journals have the highest quality and the greatest influence [ 39 , 40 ]. Furthermore, 7 source titles (Philosophical Studies, Synthese, Foundations of Science, Minds and Machines, Erkenntnis, Acta Analytica, and Axiomathes) that publish TEs topics focus on the field of philosophy. When studying TEs from a philosophical standpoint, researchers, scholars, and professionals have the option of submitting their articles to these journals. Alternatively, if TEs are studied from a historical perspective, journals such as Science and Education, Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A, Journal for General Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Science, Boston Studies in the Philosophy and History of Science, and European Journal for Philosophy of Science are appropriate. Meanwhile, if TEs are studied from an educational perspective, Physics Teacher, Science and Education, Physics Education, American Journal of Physics, and European Journal of Physics are ideal choices for publishing articles. These journals regularly publish articles in physics education studies.

If we look at the authors who have made the greatest contributions to the topic of TEs in the previous 20 years (2003–2022), Stuart is the most significant author with 7 articles (51 citations). Stuart’s work focuses on the history and philosophy of TEs [ 31 , 32 , 33 ], with the first publication in 2014 in the journal Perspectives of Science. In contrast to Stuart, Bancong's work, which ranks second, investigates various TEs from an educational standpoint. His first work, published in 2018, examined TEs in high school physics textbooks [ 3 ], followed by an investigation of how students construct TEs collaboratively [ 4 ], and an identification of factors influencing TEs during problem-solving activities [ 5 ]. Following Bancong, Fehige from the University of Toronto, Canada, has also published 5 articles. Most of his work examines TEs in religious contexts, such as thought experiments, Christianity and science in novalis [ 15 ], thought experiments and theology [ 16 ], and the book of job as a thought experiment: on science, religion, and literature [ 17 ] which was published in the journal Religions in 2019. Brown examines TEs in several of his works in light of the history and philosophy of science [ 6 , 7 ], as do Buzzoni and El Skaf from Italy, who mostly discuss TEs in light of the history and philosophy of science [ 8 , 12 ]. Meanwhile, Halkia and Velentzas from the University of Athens, Greece, have discussed TEs from an educational perspective, such as using TEs from Newton's Cannon for teaching satellite physics [ 37 ] and using TEs from the theory of relativity for teaching relativity theories [ 38 ].

Over the past two decades, authors have examined TEs from diverse perspectives, including history, philosophy, education, and religion. This variety highlights a significant shift in the disciplinary landscape of TE research, which is historically rooted in the philosophy of science [ 18 , 24 ]. The true strength of TEs lies in their adaptability across disciplines, rather than in resolving philosophical disputes. Although TEs were traditionally centered on history and philosophy of science (HPS), recent trends show a growing application in education and technology, particularly in artificial intelligence and speculative design. This shift indicates that TEs have not lost their significance but have instead found new areas of relevance. In HPS, the focus has moved toward understanding the methodological and epistemological implications of TEs, confirming their essential role in scientific reasoning [ 7 , 30 ]. Additionally, in fields such as physics education, TEs are increasingly utilized to explore complex theoretical concepts and enhance educational methodologies [ 2 , 12 ].

Based on the most commonly used keywords in the last 20 years, research on TEs has mostly focused on understanding TEs from a philosophical perspective in the first five years (2003–2007). Thought experiments rethought and reperceived [ 19 ], on thought experiments: is there more to the argument? [ 24 ] and thought experiments [ 9 ] are a few examples. Then, over the next five years (2008–2012), many studies looked at how TEs contributed to physical theories, including the special theory of relativity and quantum theory. The keywords that emerged frequently during this period were quantum theory, scientific discovery, methodology, quantum mechanics, twin earths, falling bodies, and others. In the last ten years, TEs have been studied from various perspectives. For example, in 2013, Velentzas and Halkia [ 38 ] also used TEs as a didactic tool in teaching physics to upper-secondary students. Fehige, on the other hand, began to connect TEs to theology, with a specific focus on the interaction between Christianity and science [ 15 , 16 ]. There are also researchers who continue to study the existence of TEs from a philosophical point of view and claim that TEs are science fiction [ 1 , 20 ]. In recent years, TEs have become increasingly popular in education and have been linked to artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence, physics education, productive imagination, technology, and speculative design are some of the keywords that appear frequently. This is not surprising because TEs, as experimental activities using mental models, are not easy for students to perform on their own [ 4 , 5 ]. Therefore, technology that can assist students in creating an imaginative world for constructing TEs is required.

Since no studies have charted the trends in TEs research so far, it is difficult to compare the research results obtained with those of others. Nevertheless, several studies that examine trends in physics education reveal that although research on experiments is declining in physics education, TEs are still important to physics teaching and learning [ 41 ]. Hallswoth et al. [ 21 ] have also used artificial intelligence technologies to support TEs in the field of wet biology research, which is dominated by experiments on microbial growth and survival. The use of artificial intelligence in learning is based on the growing interest in artificial intelligence methods in science, technology, and education [ 11 ]. Overall, our study contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of TEs research trends during the last 20 years. In addition, this research also contributes to providing an overview of several potential topics that can be the focus of future researchers, such as the use of artificial intelligence in TEs. By situating our findings within the broader context of previous studies, we provide a clearer picture of how TE research has evolved and where it is heading.

5 Conclusions

This study aims to present a more comprehensive understanding of the trend of studies on TEs during the last 20 years (2003–2022). Research on this topic began in 1976, and its progress has continued to the present. A total of 679 published papers from various sources, including articles (504), conference papers (92), and book chapters (83), were analyzed. The results of the study show that research and publications on TEs are of interest and have received a lot of attention during the last eight years. A significant increase occurred in 2021, with 69 published articles. According to the findings, 95% of the top 20 source titles contributing to TEs are from journals in the first and second quartiles (Q1 and Q2). This quartile ranking shows the quality and significant influence of a journal. The geographical distribution reveals that the United States contributes the most to TEs research, with 213 documents, 2592 citations, and 47 links. We also identified several prospective keywords that could be the focus of future research, including artificial intelligence, physics education, fiction, God, theology, productive imagination, technology, speculative design, and critical design. Therefore, this study contributes to providing a thorough picture of thought experiment research trends and future directions of potential topics that can be the focus of future researchers.

This research has several limitations. The exclusive source of publication data utilized in this study is the Scopus database, which is recognized as one of the most extensive databases in the field. However, it is worth noting that future research endeavors may consider including publication data from other prominent sources such as WoS and Google Scholar. Furthermore, the utilization of the search function in the TITLE-ABS-KEY field, specifically employing the terms "Thought-experiments" AND "Science" OR "Physics," was used for the purpose of data retrieval. However, it is important to acknowledge that this approach is not infallible, as there is a potential for some papers to be overlooked, making the process less than completely accurate. Despite its limitations, this research is often regarded as a pioneering contribution to the field of bibliometric studies on the subject of TEs during the past two decades.

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Bancong, H. The past and present of thought experiments’ research at Glancy: bibliometric review and analysis. Discov Educ 3 , 142 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-024-00246-z

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5 programs on esg/ sustainability to watch at workiva amplify 2024 conference.

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Workiva’s Amplify 2024 conference takes place September 9 – 11, 2024, in Denver, Colorado. The meeting brings over 3,000 accounting, finance, and business professionals from both public and private sector companies to discuss issues facing their industries. A major theme this year is environmental, social, and governance. With a rise in anti-ESG sentiment , the content of the panels will give valuable insight as to how the financial and business sectors are reacting.

ESG is a form of investing where non-financial factors are considered in the decision-making process. Globally, ESG is primarily focused on climate change and other environmental policies. It some jurisdictions, it considers human rights . In the United States, ESG included diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.

Between 2020 and 2022, ESG grew at an exponential rate. It became standard practice for both public and private companies to release annual ESG reports and sustainability reports. The need to standardize the reports was problematic for regulators.

In 2023, the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation released sustainability reporting standards. IFRS creates standards that are used in 168 jurisdictions. While the IFRS Foundation drafts the standards, it is incumbent on the individual jurisdictions to modify and adopt them to match national law. The IFRS Sustainable Reporting Standards are focused exclusively on climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. The IFRS is currently developing nature-related standards to address broader environmental concerns.

In the U.S., where IFRS is not used, the Securities and Exchange Commission worked to adopt a climate-related disclosure rule . The rule was initially adopted in March 2024, but was immediately met with litigation from both advocates and opponents. While the case works its way through the courts, the SEC has delayed implementation indefinitely. Despite the delay, and the likelihood that the courts will overturn the rule, the industry appears to be moving forward with reporting. That is where companies like Workiva come into the picture.

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Workiva provides software for ESG and financial reporting for approximately 70% of Fortune 500 companies. As a result, leaders in accounting and finance rely on Workiva reports and initiatives to determine where to place their focus. The annual conference will provide insight as to how industry leaders are preparing for ESG reporting and sustainability reporting around the world.

The theme for this year’s conference is Ready for Anything. It contains a heavy focus on ESG, sustainability, and GHG emissions reporting. Expect subtle, and not so subtle, sales pitches included in presentations. Workiva will hold a Europe centric conference October 29 – 30 in Amsterdam.

With 75 sessions running simultaneously in person and via livestream, finding the right schedule can be difficult. Here are 5 programs on ESG and sustainability that finance and business leaders should keep an eye on:

Preparing for the Future of Sustainability

September 10, 2024, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm MDT

Theme: The hidden ROI of sustainability initiatives and the transformative impact of sustainability on business performance.

ESG Pro Group: Practical Tips for Navigating ESG Trends

September 10, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm MDT

Theme: How to prepare your people, build the right processes, and bring in the right technology to be confident in reporting and assured data to address global sustainable regulations.

Speakers: John DeRose , Sustainability Partner, PWC. Maura Hodge , Partner, KPMG LLP. Jenny Lynch , Audit & Assurance Partner, Sustainability and ESG Services, Deloitte & Touche LLP. Mark Mellen , Industry Principle, Workiva.

Tackling Sustainability Regulation Head On: From Obligation to Opportunity

September 11, 9:30 am - 10:30 am MDT

Theme: Insights into navigating the ever-evolving landscape of sustainability regulation. A panel discussion on “forging alliances with peers and cross-functional teams across sustainability, finance, audit, and risk to pinpoint critical actions and craft strategic plans to tackle the complex web of overlapping and intersecting regulations worldwide.”

Speakers: Drew Niehaus , Managing Director, Riveron. Mikayla Winter , Director of ESG Reporting, Wiley .

The ESG Expert Roundtable: Navigating 2024

September 11, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm MDT

Theme: “Roundtable discussion on navigating the complex, ever-changing terrain of sustainability reporting. This session will take a deep dive into the critical role governance, robust data collection, technology, and ESG reporting strategies play in enabling customers to meet and exceed evolving stakeholder expectations and regulatory mandates around the world.”

Speakers: Adam Olsen , Financial Accounting Advisory Services Practice Leader, Embark. Mary Panks Holmes , Executive Director, Global Lead of ESG and Climate Disclosure , Sealed Air Corporation. Robby Sundberg , Managing Director, ESG & Sustainability, Embark. Brett Brett Juliano , Head of Sustainability, THL .

ESG Learning Lab: A Roundtable Discussion

September 11, 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm MDT

Theme: “Cross-departmental collaboration with SEC, audit, and risk teams, adapting to a changing regulatory landscape and engaging senior leaders on key sustainability initiatives.”

Speakers: McKenna King , Senior Sustainability Manager, Allstate Insurance Company. Jill Magruder , ESG Senior Advisor, The Cigna Group. Kari Miller , Senior Customer Marketing Manager, Workiva. Alyssa Zucker , Senior Industry Principal, Carbon, Workiva.

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