Grad SLAM Preparation Resources

2021 Grad SLAM Information Sessions

These sessions provided an overview of Grad SLAM 2021, tips on how to get started, and strategies for connecting with past participants to learn from their experiences. Please refer to this recorded video of the information session to learn more about Grad SLAM 2021. 

2021 Support & Coaching Sessions

Grad SLAM Brainstorming Sessions

Interested in GradSLAM but not sure where to begin? Join a brainstorming session through the Writing Hub! We’ll talk about GradSLAM as a genre for research communication, analyze examples from prior years, and explore how you might talk about your own research in this forum. No RSVP required, drop in when you can, for as long as you can!

• Tuesday, February 2nd, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. | The Writing Hub | Join Here

Drop-In Coaching from the Center for Student Involvement

Coaching sessions are drop-in spaces for participants to work on their presentations, receive and give feedback on research talks, and build confidence as they prepare for Grad SLAM. Bring your slides!

• Wednesday, February 3rd, 2 to 3 p.m. | Register Here
• Thursday, February 4th, 1 to 2 p.m. | Register Here
• Tuesday, February 9th, 2 to 3 p.m. | Register Here
• Friday, February 12th, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. | Register Here
• Tuesday, February 16th, 1 to 2 p.m. | Register Here

Writing Hub Workshops: 

Each of these workshops will explore useful strategies for connecting your highly-specialized research to more general audiences. 

• Connecting with Non-Expert Audiences: In this workshop, we will explore strategies for connecting to academic, interdisciplinary audiences of non-experts. | Friday, February 5th, 10 a.m. | RSVP Here
• Writing for the Public: In this workshop, we’ll share strategies for connecting with a public lay-person audience, and explore how certain lessons of academic writing should be "un-learned" when writing for the public. | Friday, February 12th, 10 a.m. | RSVP Here

Ongoing Support at the Writing Hub

Grad SLAM participants can get ongoing, individualized support from the Graduate Writing Consultants at the Writing Hub.  Writing Consultants can help you think through and articulate your ideas thoughtfully.  Consultants are available for 30 and 60 minute one-on-one appointments, Sunday through Friday.  Make an appointment at writinghub.ucsd.edu.

• How to Talk like TED by Carmine Gallo, Article by Guy Kawasaki
• How to Give a TED-Worthy Talk by Dorie Clark, Forbes
• 10 Tips on How to make Slides that Communicate your Idea, by TED Staff
• 10 Most Common Rookie Mistakes in Public Speaking by Terry Gault, Managing Partner and Vice President of the Henderson Group
• Giving an Academic Talk by Jonathan Shewchuk, Associate Professor in Computer Science, University of California at Berkeley
• Giving Oral Presentations from English Communication for Scientists by Jean-luc Doumont (ed.), Nature (2010)
• Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds
• Making the Most of Your Three Minutes for 3MT: The Three Minute Thesis by Simon Clews, Director, Writing Centre, University of Melbourne
• 10 Hints for Improving Presentations for the Three Minute Thesis Competition by Danielle Fischer, Charles Darwin University
• Presentation Skills: Overcoming Stage Fright from the GradPost
• Creating a Persuasive Presentation from the GradPost
• Top Ten Tips for Writing and Delivering Very Brief Speeches by Bill Cole, Founder and CEO of William B. Cole Consultants

Inspiration

• TED Talks: Approximately 3-minute talks on “ideas worth spreading”
• PhD Comics Two-Minute Thesis: PhD Comics challenged graduate students to explain their work in two minutes – the best have been turned into videos!
• 3 Minute Thesis Competition Winners: Winning presentations from a multi-university thesis competition in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and the South Pacific