Contestants at Grad SLAM Showcase the Influence of the Speedy Three-Minute Speech
At the Grad SLAM 2016 event held at UC San Diego, ten graduate students, including two from an unspecified organization, presented their complex research in a concise and engaging format. The competition, hosted by the UC San Diego Graduate Division, challenged students from various academic disciplines to explain their research in three-minute presentations.
One of the presentations was by Lynn Waterhouse, a fourth-year PhD candidate in biological oceanography, who shared her stock assessment research on the endangered Nassau grouper, a project with REEF and the Cayman Islands Department of Environment. Waterhouse participated in Grad SLAM for the second time and found the experience valuable for stepping back and considering the big picture of her research. She also believes the skills gained from the related workshops will help her in the future when she begins teaching.
Another notable presentation was by Catherine Nickels, a fifth-year PhD candidate in biological oceanography, who spoke about her research on zooplankton ecology and whale movement in the Nine Mile Bank. Nickels also expressed her interest in focusing on science communications in her future career.
The small panel of academically diverse faculty and staff judged the presentations and offered cash prizes of up to $2,500 to winners. Tiffany Taylor of Biomedical Sciences won first place and the grand prize of $2,500 with her presentation "Using 'Central Intelligence' to Fight and Conquer Brain Tumors". Mary Glen Fredrick of Theatre and Dance received second place and $1,000 with her presentation "Making a Monster: Turning Statistics into a Story". Lorenzo Rossini of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering earned third place and $750 with his presentation "A Peek inside the Heart: How the Blood Flows".
Waterhouse and Nickels received honorable mention for their presentations at Grad SLAM 2016. The event was held at the Student Services Complex Multipurpose Room and featured topics ranging from wearable biofuel cells to stimulation of blind eyes to restore vision.
The Center for Student Involvement and Qualcomm Institute helped Grad SLAM finalists prepare for the competition with workshops and one-on-one coaching. These events often include coaching and workshops designed to help students sharpen their presentation skills.
UC San Diego continues to hold Grad SLAM competitions where graduate students like Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. student Consuelo Sauceda share research on diverse topics, exemplified by her presentation using coral reefs as an example. These events provide a unique opportunity for graduate students to communicate their research to a wide audience in a concise and engaging manner.
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