The Graduate Student Center at California State University, Bakersfield will host the second Grad Slam Competition on Friday, Dec. 4, from 3 to 5 p.m. through Zoom invite.
The event is free and open to the public.
During the Grad Slam, or 3MT (three-minute thesis) competition, master’s and doctoral students will showcase their research through short TEDx Talk-style presentations. In a span of three minutes, participants will display their research using one PowerPoint slide and present their research using language that not only their peers, but also non-specialists will understand.
“Through the CSUB Grad Slam competition, our graduate students can proudly present their hard work in conducting scientific research, an endeavor for which they have passion, patience, and perseverance, required to advance science,” said Dr. Luis Vega, Interim Associate Dean of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies.
A team of very distinguished guest judges will score each presentation according to four criteria: comprehension, content, engagement and communication. Judges include former CSUB Alumni Hall of Fame inductees Sheryl Chalupa, Jeremy Adams, Debbie Wood, and Catherine E. Bennett.
In preparation for the CSUB Grad Slam, a series of 90-minute workshops were offered for interested students. These workshops provided a basic overview of the competition, rules and judging criteria, as well as guidance on crafting a memorable message, designing a compelling visual presentation, and communicating with confidence.
The winner of the inaugural CSUB Grad Slam will be invited to participate in the fifth annual regional Grad Slam hosted by the Western Association of Graduate Schools (WAGS) at its conference in March 24, 2021, which will be virtual this year due to COVID-19. The winner will join nearly two dozen collegiate competitors from Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, North Dakota, Utah and New Mexico as well as other CSU campuses.
For additional information, please visit www.csub.edu/graduatestudentcenter or email gsc@csub.edu.