name: scientific-slides description: "Build slide decks and presentations for research talks using Nano Banana Pro AI. Generates stunning PDF presentations with AI-generated slides. Use for conference presentations, seminar talks, thesis defense slides, or any scientific talk. Provides slide structure, design guidance, timing recommendations, and visual validation." allowed-tools: [Read, Write, Edit, Bash]

Scientific Slides

Overview

Scientific presentations are a critical medium for communicating research, sharing findings, and engaging with academic and professional audiences. This skill provides comprehensive guidance for creating effective scientific presentations, from structure and content development to visual design and delivery preparation.

Key Focus: Oral presentations for conferences, seminars, defenses, and professional talks.

CRITICAL DESIGN PHILOSOPHY: Scientific presentations should be VISUALLY ENGAGING and RESEARCH-BACKED. Avoid dry, text-heavy slides at all costs. Great scientific presentations combine:

Compelling visuals: High-quality figures, images, diagrams (not just bullet points)
Research context: Proper citations from research-lookup establishing credibility
Minimal text: Bullet points as prompts, YOU provide the explanation verbally
Professional design: Modern color schemes, strong visual hierarchy, generous white space
Story-driven: Clear narrative arc, not just data dumps

Remember: Boring presentations = forgotten science. Make your slides visually memorable while maintaining scientific rigor through proper citations.

When to Use This Skill

This skill should be used when:

Preparing conference presentations (5-20 minutes)
Developing academic seminars (45-60 minutes)
Creating thesis or dissertation defense presentations
Designing grant pitch presentations
Preparing journal club presentations
Giving research talks at institutions or companies
Teaching or tutorial presentations on scientific topics

Slide Generation with Nano Banana Pro

This skill uses Nano Banana Pro AI to generate stunning presentation slides automatically.

Workflow: PDF Slides

Generate each slide as a complete image using Nano Banana Pro, then combine into a PDF. This produces the most visually stunning results.

How it works:

Plan the deck: Create a detailed plan for each slide (title, key points, visual elements)
Generate slides: Call Nano Banana Pro for each slide to create complete slide images
Combine to PDF: Assemble slide images into a single PDF presentation

Step 1: Plan Each Slide

Before generating, create a detailed plan for your presentation:

# Presentation Plan: Introduction to Machine Learning

## Slide 1: Title Slide
- Title: "Machine Learning: From Theory to Practice"
- Subtitle: "AI Conference 2025"
- Speaker: Dr. Jane Smith, University of XYZ
- Visual: Modern abstract neural network background

## Slide 2: Introduction
- Title: "Why Machine Learning Matters"
- Key points: Industry adoption, breakthrough applications, future potential
- Visual: Icons showing different ML applications (healthcare, finance, robotics)

## Slide 3: Core Concepts
- Title: "The Three Types of Learning"
- Content: Supervised, Unsupervised, Reinforcement
- Visual: Three-part diagram showing each type with examples

... (continue for all slides)

Step 2: Generate Each Slide

Use the generate_slide_image.py script to create each slide.

CRITICAL: Formatting Consistency Protocol

To ensure unified formatting across all slides in a presentation:

Define a Formatting Goal at the start of your presentation and include it in EVERY prompt:
- Color scheme (e.g., "dark blue background, white text, gold accents")
- Typography style (e.g., "bold sans-serif titles, clean body text")
- Visual style (e.g., "minimal, professional, corporate aesthetic")
- Layout approach (e.g., "generous white space, left-aligned content")
Always attach the previous slide when generating subsequent slides using --attach:
- This allows Nano Banana Pro to see and match the existing style
- Creates visual continuity throughout the deck
- Ensures consistent colors, fonts, and design language
Default author is "K-Dense" unless another name is specified
Include citations directly in the prompt for slides that reference research:
- Add citations in the prompt text so they appear on the generated slide
- Use format: "Include citation: (Author et al., Year)" or "Show reference: Author et al., Year"
- For multiple citations, list them all in the prompt
- Citations should appear in small text at the bottom of the slide or near relevant content
Attach existing figures/data for results slides (CRITICAL for data-driven presentations):
- When creating slides about results, ALWAYS check for existing figures in:
  - The working directory (e.g., figures/, results/, plots/, images/)
  - User-provided input files or directories
  - Any data visualizations, charts, or graphs relevant to the presentation
- Use --attach to include these figures so Nano Banana Pro can incorporate them:
  - Attach the actual data figure/chart for results slides
  - Attach relevant diagrams for methodology slides
  - Attach logos or institutional images for title slides
- When attaching data figures, describe what you want in the prompt:
  - "Create a slide presenting the attached results chart with key findings highlighted"
  - "Build a slide around this attached figure, add title and bullet points explaining the data"
  - "Incorporate the attached graph into a results slide with interpretation"
- Before generating results slides: List files in the working directory to find relevant figures
- Multiple figures can be attached: --attach fig1.png --attach fig2.png

Example with formatting consistency, citations, and figure attachments:

# Title slide (first slide - establishes the style)
python scripts/generate_slide_image.py "Title slide for presentation: 'Machine Learning: From Theory to Practice'. Subtitle: 'AI Conference 2025'. Speaker: K-Dense. FORMATTING GOAL: Dark blue background (#1a237e), white text, gold accents (#ffc107), minimal design, sans-serif fonts, generous margins, no decorative elements." -o slides/01_title.png

# Content slide with citations (attach previous slide for consistency)
python scripts/generate_slide_image.py "Presentation slide titled 'Why Machine Learning Matters'. Three key points with simple icons: 1) Industry adoption, 2) Breakthrough applications, 3) Future potential. CITATIONS: Include at bottom in small text: (LeCun et al., 2015; Goodfellow et al., 2016). FORMATTING GOAL: Match attached slide style - dark blue background, white text, gold accents, minimal professional design, no visual clutter." -o slides/02_intro.png --attach slides/01_title.png

# Background slide with multiple citations
python scripts/generate_slide_image.py "Presentation slide titled 'Deep Learning Revolution'. Key milestones: ImageNet breakthrough (2012), transformer architecture (2017), GPT models (2018-present). CITATIONS: Show references at bottom: (Krizhevsky et al., 2012; Vaswani et al., 2017; Brown et al., 2020). FORMATTING GOAL: Match attached slide style exactly - same colors, fonts, minimal design." -o slides/03_background.png --attach slides/02_intro.png

# RESULTS SLIDE - Attach actual data figure from working directory
# First, check what figures exist: ls figures/ or ls results/
python scripts/generate_slide_image.py "Presentation slide titled 'Model Performance Results'. Create a slide presenting the attached accuracy chart. Key findings to highlight: 1) 95% accuracy achieved, 2) Outperforms baseline by 12%, 3) Consistent across test sets. CITATIONS: Include at bottom: (Our results, 2025). FORMATTING GOAL: Match attached slide style exactly." -o slides/04_results.png --attach slides/03_background.png --attach figures/accuracy_chart.png

# RESULTS SLIDE - Multiple figures comparison
python scripts/generate_slide_image.py "Presentation slide titled 'Before vs After Comparison'. Build a side-by-side comparison slide using the two attached figures. Left: baseline results, Right: our improved results. Add brief labels explaining the improvement. FORMATTING GOAL: Match attached slide style exactly." -o slides/05_comparison.png --attach slides/04_results.png --attach figures/baseline.png --attach figures/improved.png

# METHODOLOGY SLIDE - Attach existing diagram
python scripts/generate_slide_image.py "Presentation slide titled 'System Architecture'. Present the attached architecture diagram with brief explanatory bullet points: 1) Input processing, 2) Model inference, 3) Output generation. FORMATTING GOAL: Match attached slide style exactly." -o slides/06_architecture.png --attach slides/05_comparison.png --attach diagrams/system_architecture.png

IMPORTANT: Before creating results slides, always:

List files in working directory: ls -la figures/ or ls -la results/
Check user-provided directories for relevant figures
Attach ALL relevant figures that should appear on the slide
Describe how Nano Banana Pro should incorporate the attached figures

Prompt Template:

Include these elements in every prompt (customize as needed):

[Slide content description]
CITATIONS: Include at bottom: (Author1 et al., Year; Author2 et al., Year)
FORMATTING GOAL: [Background color], [text color], [accent color], minimal professional design, no decorative elements, consistent with attached slide style.

Step 3: Combine to PDF

# Combine all slides into a PDF presentation
python scripts/slides_to_pdf.py slides/*.png -o presentation.pdf

Nano Banana Pro Script Reference

generate_slide_image.py

Generate presentation slides using Nano Banana Pro AI.

# Generate a complete slide as image
python scripts/generate_slide_image.py "slide description" -o output.png

# With reference images attached (Nano Banana Pro will see these)
python scripts/generate_slide_image.py "Create a slide explaining this chart" -o slide.png --attach chart.png
python scripts/generate_slide_image.py "Combine these into a comparison slide" -o compare.png --attach before.png --attach after.png

Options:

-o, --output: Output file path (required)
--attach IMAGE: Attach image file(s) as context for generation (can use multiple times)
--iterations: Max refinement iterations (default: 2)
--api-key: OpenRouter API key (or set OPENROUTER_API_KEY env var)
-v, --verbose: Verbose output

Attaching Reference Images:

Use --attach when you want Nano Banana Pro to see existing images as context:

"Create a slide about this data" + attach the data chart
"Make a title slide with this logo" + attach the logo
"Combine these figures into one slide" + attach multiple images
"Explain this diagram in a slide" + attach the diagram

Environment Setup:

export OPENROUTER_API_KEY='your_api_key_here'
# Get key at: https://openrouter.ai/keys

slides_to_pdf.py

Combine multiple slide images into a single PDF.

# Combine PNG files
python scripts/slides_to_pdf.py slides/*.png -o presentation.pdf

# Combine specific files in order
python scripts/slides_to_pdf.py title.png intro.png methods.png -o talk.pdf

# From directory (sorted by filename)
python scripts/slides_to_pdf.py slides/ -o presentation.pdf

Options:

-o, --output: Output PDF path (required)
--dpi: PDF resolution (default: 150)
-v, --verbose: Verbose output

Tip: Name slides with numbers for correct ordering: 01_title.png, 02_intro.png, etc.

Prompt Writing for Slide Generation

Slide Prompts

For complete slides, include:

Slide type: Title slide, content slide, diagram slide, etc.
Title: The slide title text
Content: Key points, bullet items, or descriptions
Visual elements: What imagery, icons, or graphics to include
Design style: Color scheme, mood, aesthetic

Example prompts:

Title slide:
"Title slide for a medical research presentation. Title: 'Advances in Cancer Immunotherapy'. Subtitle: 'Clinical Trial Results 2024'. Professional medical theme with subtle DNA helix in background. Navy blue and white color scheme."

Content slide:
"Presentation slide titled 'Key Findings'. Three bullet points: 1) 40% improvement in response rate, 2) Reduced side effects, 3) Extended survival outcomes. Include relevant medical icons. Clean, professional design with green and white colors."

Diagram slide:
"Presentation slide showing the research methodology. Title: 'Study Design'. Flowchart showing: Patient Screening → Randomization → Treatment Groups (A, B, Control) → Follow-up → Analysis. CONSORT-style flow diagram. Professional academic style."

Visual Enhancement with Scientific Schematics

In addition to slide generation, use the scientific-schematics skill for technical diagrams:

When to use scientific-schematics instead:

Complex technical diagrams (circuit diagrams, chemical structures)
Publication-quality figures for papers (higher quality threshold)
Diagrams requiring scientific accuracy review

How to generate schematics:

python scripts/generate_schematic.py "your diagram description" -o figures/output.png

For detailed guidance on creating schematics, refer to the scientific-schematics skill documentation.

Core Capabilities

1. Presentation Structure and Organization

Build presentations with clear narrative flow and appropriate structure for different contexts. For detailed guidance, refer to references/presentation_structure.md.

Universal Story Arc:

Hook: Grab attention (30-60 seconds)
Context: Establish importance (5-10% of talk)
Problem/Gap: Identify what's unknown (5-10% of talk)
Approach: Explain your solution (15-25% of talk)
Results: Present key findings (40-50% of talk)
Implications: Discuss meaning (15-20% of talk)
Closure: Memorable conclusion (1-2 minutes)

Talk-Specific Structures:

Conference talks (15 min): Focused on 1-2 key findings, minimal methods
Academic seminars (45 min): Comprehensive coverage, detailed methods, multiple studies
Thesis defenses (60 min): Complete dissertation overview, all studies covered
Grant pitches (15 min): Emphasis on significance, feasibility, and impact
Journal clubs (30 min): Critical analysis of published work

2. Slide Design Principles

Create professional, readable, and accessible slides that enhance understanding. For complete design guidelines, refer to references/slide_design_principles.md.

ANTI-PATTERN: Avoid Dry, Text-Heavy Presentations

❌ What Makes Presentations Dry and Forgettable:

Walls of text (more than 6 bullets per slide)
Small fonts (<24pt body text)
Black text on white background only (no visual interest)
No images or graphics (bullet points only)
Generic templates with no customization
Dense, paragraph-like bullet points
Missing research context (no citations)
All slides look the same (repetitive)

✅ What Makes Presentations Engaging and Memorable:

HIGH-QUALITY VISUALS dominate (figures, photos, diagrams, icons)
Large, clear text as accent (not the main content)
Modern, purposeful color schemes (not default themes)
Generous white space (slides breathe)
Research-backed context (proper citations from research-lookup)
Variety in slide layouts (not all bullet lists)
Story-driven flow with visual anchors
Professional, polished appearance

Core Design Principles:

Visual-First Approach (CRITICAL):

Start with visuals (figures, images, diagrams), add text as support
Every slide should have STRONG visual element (figure, chart, photo, diagram)
Text explains or complements visuals, not replaces them
Think: "How can I show this, not just tell it?"
Target: 60-70% visual content, 30-40% text

Simplicity with Impact:

One main idea per slide
MINIMAL text (3-4 bullets, 4-6 words each preferred)
Generous white space (40-50% of slide)
Clear visual focus
Bold, confident design choices

Typography for Engagement:

Sans-serif fonts (Arial, Calibri, Helvetica)
LARGE fonts: 24-28pt for body text (not minimum 18pt)
36-44pt for slide titles (make bold)
High contrast (minimum 4.5:1, prefer 7:1)
Use size for hierarchy, not just weight

Color for Impact:

MODERN color palettes (not default blue/gray)
Consider your topic: biotech? vibrant colors. Physics? sleek darks. Health? warm tones.
Limited palette (3-5 colors total)
High contrast combinations
Color-blind safe (avoid red-green combinations)
Use color purposefully (not decoration)

Layout for Visual Interest:

Vary layouts (not all bullet lists)
Use two-column layouts (text + figure)
Full-slide figures for key results
Asymmetric compositions (more interesting than centered)
Rule of thirds for focal points
Consistent but not repetitive

3. Data Visualization for Slides

Adapt scientific figures for presentation context. For detailed guidance, refer to references/data_visualization_slides.md.

Key Differences from Journal Figures:

Simplify, don't replicate
Larger fonts (18-24pt minimum)
Fewer panels (split across slides)
Direct labeling (not legends)
Emphasis through color and size
Progressive disclosure for complex data

Visualization Best Practices:

Bar charts: Comparing discrete categories
Line graphs: Trends and trajectories
Scatter plots: Relationships and correlations
Heatmaps: Matrix data and patterns
Network diagrams: Relationships and connections

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Tiny fonts (<18pt)
Too many panels on one slide
Complex legends
Insufficient contrast
Cluttered layouts

4. Talk-Specific Guidance

Different presentation contexts require different approaches. For comprehensive guidance on each type, refer to references/talk_types_guide.md.

Conference Talks (10-20 minutes):

Structure: Brief intro → minimal methods → key results → quick conclusion
Focus: 1-2 main findings only
Style: Engaging, fast-paced, memorable
Goal: Generate interest, network, get invited

Academic Seminars (45-60 minutes):

Structure: Comprehensive coverage with detailed methods
Focus: Multiple findings, depth of analysis
Style: Scholarly, interactive, discussion-oriented
Goal: Demonstrate expertise, get feedback, collaborate

Thesis Defenses (45-60 minutes):

Structure: Complete dissertation overview, all studies
Focus: Demonstrating mastery and independent thinking
Style: Formal, comprehensive, prepared for interrogation
Goal: Pass examination, defend research decisions

Grant Pitches (10-20 minutes):

Structure: Problem → significance → approach → feasibility → impact
Focus: Innovation, preliminary data, team qualifications
Style: Persuasive, focused on outcomes and impact
Goal: Secure funding, demonstrate viability

Journal Clubs (20-45 minutes):

Structure: Context → methods → results → critical analysis
Focus: Understanding and critiquing published work
Style: Educational, critical, discussion-facilitating
Goal: Learn, critique, discuss implications

5. Visual Review and Iteration

Implement iterative improvement through visual inspection. For complete workflow, refer to references/visual_review_workflow.md.

Visual Validation Workflow:

Step 1: Convert PDF to Images

# Using the pdf_to_images script
python scripts/pdf_to_images.py presentation.pdf review/slide --dpi 150

Step 2: Systematic Inspection

Check each slide for:

Text overflow: Text cut off at edges
Element overlap: Text overlapping images or other text
Font sizes: Text too small (<18pt)
Contrast: Insufficient contrast between text and background
Layout issues: Misalignment, poor spacing
Visual quality: Pixelated images, poor rendering

Step 3: Document Issues

Create issue log:

Slide # | Issue Type | Description | Priority
--------|-----------|-------------|----------
3       | Text overflow | Bullet 4 extends beyond box | High
7       | Overlap | Figure overlaps with caption | High
12      | Font size | Axis labels too small | Medium

Step 4: Regenerate Problem Slides

Regenerate any slides that have issues with improved prompts, then re-combine to PDF.

Step 5: Re-Validate

Repeat Steps 1-4 until no critical issues remain.

Stopping Criteria:

No text overflow
No inappropriate overlaps
All text readable (≥18pt equivalent)
Adequate contrast (≥4.5:1)
Professional appearance

6. Timing and Pacing

Ensure presentations fit allocated time. For comprehensive timing guidance, refer to assets/timing_guidelines.md.

The One-Slide-Per-Minute Rule:

General guideline: ~1 slide per minute
Adjust for complex slides (2-3 minutes)
Adjust for simple slides (15-30 seconds)

Time Allocation:

Introduction: 15-20%
Methods: 15-20%
Results: 40-50% (MOST TIME)
Discussion: 15-20%
Conclusion: 5%

Practice Requirements:

5-minute talk: Practice 5-7 times
15-minute talk: Practice 3-5 times
45-minute talk: Practice 3-4 times
Defense: Practice 4-6 times

Timing Checkpoints:

For 15-minute talk:

3-4 minutes: Finishing introduction
7-8 minutes: Halfway through results
12-13 minutes: Starting conclusions

Emergency Strategies:

Running behind: Skip backup slides (prepare in advance)
Running ahead: Expand examples, slow slightly
Never skip conclusions

7. Validation and Quality Assurance

Automated Validation:

# Validate slide count, timing, file size
python scripts/validate_presentation.py presentation.pdf --duration 15

# Generates report on:
# - Slide count vs. recommended range
# - File size warnings
# - Slide dimensions

Manual Validation Checklist:

Workflow for Presentation Development

Stage 1: Planning (Before Creating Slides)

Define Context:

What type of talk? (Conference, seminar, defense, etc.)
How long? (Duration in minutes)
Who is the audience? (Specialists, general, mixed)
What's the venue? (Room size, A/V setup, virtual/in-person)
What happens after? (Q&A, discussion, networking)

Research and Literature Review (Use research-lookup skill):

Search for background literature: Find 5-10 key papers establishing context
Identify knowledge gaps: Use research-lookup to find what's unknown
Locate comparison studies: Find papers with similar methods or results
Gather supporting citations: Collect papers supporting your interpretations
Build reference list: Create .bib file or citation list for slides
Note key findings to cite: Document specific results to reference

Develop Content Outline:

Identify 1-3 core messages
Select key findings to present
Choose essential figures (typically 3-6 for 15-min talk)
Plan narrative arc with proper citations
Allocate time by section

Example Outline for 15-Minute Talk:

1. Title (30 sec)
2. Hook: Compelling problem (60 sec) [Cite 1-2 papers via research-lookup]
3. Background (90 sec) [Cite 3-4 key papers establishing context]
4. Research question (45 sec) [Cite papers showing gap]
5. Methods overview (2 min)
6-8. Main result 1 (3 min, 3 slides)
9-10. Main result 2 (2 min, 2 slides)
11-12. Result 3 or validation (2 min, 2 slides)
13-14. Discussion and implications (2 min) [Compare to 2-3 prior studies]
15. Conclusions (45 sec)
16. Acknowledgments (15 sec)

NOTE: Use research-lookup to find papers for background (slides 2-4) 
and discussion (slides 13-14) BEFORE creating slides.

Stage 2: Design and Creation

Design Considerations (Make It Visually Appealing):

Select MODERN color palette: Match your topic (biotech=vibrant, physics=sleek, health=warm)
- NOT default blue/gray themes
- 3-5 colors with high contrast
Choose clean fonts: Sans-serif, large sizes (24pt+ body)
Plan visual elements: What images, diagrams, icons for each slide?
Create varied layouts: Mix full-figure, two-column, text-overlay (not all bullets)
Design section dividers: Visual breaks with striking graphics
Add visual interest: Background images, color blocks, shapes, icons
Define formatting goal: Include consistent styling in every prompt (colors, fonts, style)

Stage 3: Content Development

Populate Slides (Visual-First Strategy):

Start with visuals: Plan which figures, images, diagrams for each key point
Use research-lookup extensively: Find 8-15 papers for proper citations
Create visual backbone first: Add all figures, charts, images, diagrams
Add minimal text as support: Bullet points complement visuals, don't replace them
Design section dividers: Visual breaks with images or graphics (not just text)
Polish title/closing: Make visually striking, include contact info
Add transitions/builds: Control information flow

VISUAL CONTENT REQUIREMENTS (Make Slides Engaging):

Images: Use high-quality photos, illustrations, conceptual graphics
Icons: Visual representations of concepts (not decoration)
Diagrams: Flowcharts, schematics, process diagrams
Figures: Simplified research figures with LARGE labels (18-24pt)
Charts: Clean data visualizations with clear messages
Graphics: Visual metaphors, conceptual illustrations
Color blocks: Use colored shapes to organize content visually
Target: MINIMUM 1-2 strong visual elements per slide

Scientific Content (Research-Backed):

Citations: Use research-lookup EXTENSIVELY to find relevant papers
- Introduction: Cite 3-5 papers establishing context and gap
- Background: Show key prior work visually (not just cite)
- Discussion: Cite 3-5 papers for comparison with your results
- Use author-year format (Smith et al., 2023) for readability
- Citations establish credibility and scientific rigor
Figures: Simplified from papers, LARGE labels (18-24pt minimum)
Equations: Large, clear, explain each term (use sparingly)
Tables: Minimal, highlight key comparisons (not data dumps)
Code/Algorithms: Use syntax highlighting, keep brief

Text Guidelines (Less is More):

Bullet points, NEVER paragraphs
3-4 bullets per slide (max 6 only if essential)
4-6 words per bullet (shorter than 6×6 rule)
Key terms in bold
Text is SUPPORTING ROLE, visuals are stars
Use builds to control pacing

Stage 4: Visual Validation

Generate Images:

# Convert PDF to images
python scripts/pdf_to_images.py presentation.pdf review/slides

Systematic Review:

View each slide image
Check against issue checklist
Document problems with slide numbers
Test readability from distance (view at 50% size)

Common Issues to Fix:

Text extending beyond boundaries
Figures overlapping with text
Font sizes too small
Poor contrast
Misalignment

Iteration:

Identify issues in generated slides
Regenerate problem slides with improved prompts
Re-combine to PDF
Re-inspect
Repeat until clean

Stage 5: Practice and Refinement

Practice Schedule:

Run 1: Rough draft (will run long)
Run 2: Smooth transitions
Run 3: Exact timing
Run 4: Final polish
Run 5+: Maintenance (day before, morning of)

What to Practice:

Full talk with timer
Difficult explanations
Transitions between sections
Opening and closing (until flawless)
Anticipated questions

Refinement Based on Practice:

Cut slides if running over
Expand explanations if unclear
Adjust wording for clarity
Mark timing checkpoints
Prepare backup slides

Stage 6: Final Preparation

Technical Checks:

Multiple copies saved (laptop, cloud, USB)
Works on presentation computer
Adapters/cables available
Backup PDF version
Tested with projector (if possible)

Content Final:

Delivery Prep:

Integration with Other Skills

Research Lookup (Critical for Scientific Presentations):

Background development: Search literature to build introduction context
Citation gathering: Find key papers to cite in your talk
Gap identification: Identify what's unknown to motivate research
Prior work comparison: Find papers to compare your results against
Supporting evidence: Locate literature supporting your interpretations
Question preparation: Find papers that might inform Q&A responses
Always use research-lookup when developing any scientific presentation to ensure proper context and citations

Scientific Writing:

Convert paper content to presentation format
Extract key findings and simplify
Use same figures (but redesigned for slides)
Maintain consistent terminology

Data Visualization:

Create presentation-appropriate figures
Simplify complex visualizations
Ensure readability from distance
Use progressive disclosure

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Content Mistakes

Dry, Boring Presentations (CRITICAL TO AVOID):

Problem: Text-heavy slides with no visual interest, missing research context
Signs: All bullet points, no images, default templates, no citations
Solution:
- Use research-lookup to find 8-15 papers for credible context
- Add high-quality visuals to EVERY slide (figures, photos, diagrams, icons)
- Choose modern color palette reflecting your topic
- Vary slide layouts (not all bullet lists)
- Tell a story with visuals, use text sparingly

Too Much Content:

Problem: Trying to include everything from paper
Solution: Focus on 1-2 key findings for short talks, show visually

Too Much Text:

Problem: Full paragraphs on slides, dense bullet points, reading verbatim
Solution: 3-4 bullets with 4-6 words each, let visuals carry the message

Missing Research Context:

Problem: No citations, claims without support, unclear positioning
Solution: Use research-lookup to find papers, cite 3-5 in intro, 3-5 in discussion

Poor Narrative:

Problem: Jumping between topics, no clear story, no flow
Solution: Follow story arc, use visual transitions, maintain thread

Rushing Through Results:

Problem: Brief methods, brief results, long discussion
Solution: Spend 40-50% of time on results, show data visually

Design Mistakes

Generic, Default Appearance:

Problem: Using generic styling without customization, looks dated
Solution: Choose modern color palette in prompts, specify fonts/layouts, add visual personality

Text-Heavy, Visual-Poor:

Problem: All bullet point slides, no images or graphics, boring to look at
Solution: Add figures, photos, diagrams, icons to EVERY slide, make visually interesting

Small Fonts:

Problem: Body text <18pt, unreadable from back, looks unprofessional
Solution: 24-28pt for body (not just 18pt minimum), 36-44pt for titles

Low Contrast:

Problem: Light text on light background, poor visibility, hard to read
Solution: High contrast (7:1 preferred, not just 4.5:1 minimum), test with contrast checker

Cluttered Slides:

Problem: Too many elements, no white space, overwhelming
Solution: One idea per slide, 40-50% white space, generous spacing

Inconsistent Formatting:

Problem: Different fonts, colors, layouts slide-to-slide, looks amateurish
Solution: Use master slides, maintain design system, professional consistency

Missing Visual Hierarchy:

Problem: Everything same size and color, no emphasis, unclear focus
Solution: Size differences (titles large, body medium), color for emphasis, clear focal point

Timing Mistakes

Not Practicing:

Problem: First time through is during presentation
Solution: Practice minimum 3 times with timer

No Time Checkpoints:

Problem: Don't realize running behind until too late
Solution: Set 3-4 checkpoints, monitor throughout

Going Over Time:

Problem: Extremely unprofessional, cuts into Q&A
Solution: Practice to exact time, prepare Plan B (slides to skip)

Skipping Conclusions:

Problem: Running out of time, rush through or skip ending
Solution: Never skip conclusions, cut earlier content instead

Tools and Scripts

Nano Banana Pro Scripts

generate_slide_image.py - Generate slides with AI:

# Generate a complete slide
python scripts/generate_slide_image.py "Title: Introduction\nContent: Key points" -o slide.png

# Options:
# -o, --output       Output file path (required)
# --attach IMAGE     Attach reference images for context
# --iterations N     Max refinement iterations (default: 2)
# -v, --verbose      Verbose output

slides_to_pdf.py - Combine slide images into PDF:

# From glob pattern
python scripts/slides_to_pdf.py slides/*.png -o presentation.pdf

# From directory (sorted by filename)
python scripts/slides_to_pdf.py slides/ -o presentation.pdf

# Options:
# -o, --output    Output PDF path (required)
# --dpi N         PDF resolution (default: 150)
# -v, --verbose   Verbose output

Validation Scripts

validate_presentation.py:

python scripts/validate_presentation.py presentation.pdf --duration 15

# Checks:
# - Slide count vs. recommended range
# - File size warnings
# - Slide dimensions

pdf_to_images.py:

python scripts/pdf_to_images.py presentation.pdf output/slide --dpi 150

# Converts PDF to images for visual inspection
# Supports: JPG, PNG
# Adjustable DPI
# Page range selection

External Tools

Recommended:

PDF viewer: For reviewing presentations
Color contrast checker: WebAIM Contrast Checker
Color blindness simulator: Coblis
Timer app: For practice sessions
Screen recorder: For self-review

Reference Files

Comprehensive guides for specific aspects:

references/presentation_structure.md: Detailed structure for all talk types, timing allocation, opening/closing strategies, transition techniques
references/slide_design_principles.md: Typography, color theory, layout, accessibility, visual hierarchy, design workflow
references/data_visualization_slides.md: Simplifying figures, chart types, progressive disclosure, common mistakes, recreation workflow
references/talk_types_guide.md: Specific guidance for conferences, seminars, defenses, grants, journal clubs, with examples
references/visual_review_workflow.md: PDF to images conversion, systematic inspection, issue documentation, iterative improvement

Assets

Guides

assets/timing_guidelines.md: Comprehensive timing, pacing, and practice strategies

Quick Start Guide

For a 15-Minute Conference Talk

Research & Plan (45 minutes):
- Use research-lookup to find 8-12 relevant papers for citations
- Build reference list (background, comparison studies)
- Outline content (intro → methods → 2-3 key results → conclusion)
- Create detailed plan for each slide (title, key points, visual elements)
- Target 15-18 slides

Generate Slides with Nano Banana Pro (1-2 hours):

Important: Use consistent formatting, attach previous slides, and include citations!

# Title slide (establishes style - default author: K-Dense)
python scripts/generate_slide_image.py "Title slide: 'Your Research Title'. Conference name, K-Dense. FORMATTING GOAL: [your color scheme], minimal professional design, no decorative elements, clean and corporate." -o slides/01_title.png

# Introduction slide with citations (attach previous for consistency)
python scripts/generate_slide_image.py "Slide titled 'Why This Matters'. Three key points with simple icons. CITATIONS: Include at bottom: (Smith et al., 2023; Jones et al., 2024). FORMATTING GOAL: Match attached slide style exactly." -o slides/02_intro.png --attach slides/01_title.png

# Continue for each slide (always attach previous, include citations where relevant)
python scripts/generate_slide_image.py "Slide titled 'Methods'. Key methodology points. CITATIONS: (Based on Chen et al., 2022). FORMATTING GOAL: Match attached slide style exactly." -o slides/03_methods.png --attach slides/02_intro.png

# Combine to PDF
python scripts/slides_to_pdf.py slides/*.png -o presentation.pdf

Review & Iterate (30 minutes):
- Open the PDF and review each slide
- Regenerate any slides that need improvement
- Re-combine to PDF
Practice (2-3 hours):
- Practice 3-5 times with timer
- Aim for 13-14 minutes (leave buffer)
- Record yourself, watch playback
- Prepare for questions (use research-lookup to anticipate)
Finalize (30 minutes):
- Generate backup/appendix slides if needed
- Save multiple copies
- Test on presentation computer

Total time: ~5-6 hours for quality AI-generated presentation

Summary: Key Principles

Visual-First Design: Every slide needs strong visual element (figure, image, diagram) - avoid text-only slides
Research-Backed: Use research-lookup to find 8-15 papers, cite 3-5 in intro, 3-5 in discussion
Modern Aesthetics: Choose contemporary color palette matching topic, not default themes
Minimal Text: 3-4 bullets, 4-6 words each (24-28pt font), let visuals tell story
Structure: Follow story arc, spend 40-50% on results
High Contrast: 7:1 preferred for professional appearance
Varied Layouts: Mix full-figure, two-column, visual overlays (not all bullets)
Timing: Practice 3-5 times, ~1 slide per minute, never skip conclusions
Validation: Visual review workflow to catch overflow and overlap
White Space: 40-50% of slide empty for visual breathing room

Remember:

Boring = Forgotten: Dry, text-heavy slides fail to communicate your science
Visual + Research = Impact: Combine compelling visuals with research-backed context
You are the presentation, slides are visual support: They should enhance, not replace your talk

scientific-slides

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