Research Elevator Pitch Competition registration opens

Faculty of Engineering Graduate Research Symposium challenges grad students to elevator pitch competition

Olga Ivanova - 27 May 2016

(Edmonton) How would you explain your research to someone outside your and make them really understand? How would you compress thousands of hours spent in the lab and volumes of theories into a three-minute speech?

"Let's say you're in an elevator and someone asks you what you do. You have to explain it in a captivating and easy way," said Aïda Valevicius, the chair of the Faculty of Engineering Graduate Research Symposium organising committee.

To practice the art of engaging people with your research and sparking interest in what you do among a non-specialist audience, this year's Graduate Research Symposium is hosting a Research Elevator Pitch competition for engineering graduate students.

"It's important for graduate students to communicate effectively. This is a good support for classroom presentations, conferences, and seminars," said Valevicius.

The key idea behind the project is to help develop presentation skills by generating buzz around a research project.

"Everyone is often secluded in their labs. This initiative will foster collaboration among graduate students in the departments," she said.

Here's how it works: within three minutes, you have to 'pitch' your project-however specialized or narrow it might be-to a general audience. Unlike similar competitions, TED talk or Three Minute Thesis, you're not allowed to use PowerPoint slides or notes, but can rely on one single prop. Your presentation will be evaluated on the clarity of thought and ability to engage.

"This is pretty much a really short TED talk," added Valevicius.

Your pitch will be judged by an academic team made up of faculty members, senior PhD students, and post-doctoral fellows, as well as the audience, through an on-line voting application.

To give a great talk, Valevicius recommends writing it down first.

"If I had to present a talk, I would start by writing it down and reading it out loud. I would then definitely present it to my lab mates and supervisors to get their feedback," said Valevicius. To prepare a successful script, Valevicius suggests using shorter sentences, active verbs, and no jargon-your project must be of interest to a non-technical audience.

The competition is part of the two-day Faculty of Engineering Graduate Research Symposium running June 22-23.

All graduate students interested in competing for the best pitch must register on the Faculty of Engineering Graduate Student Symposium website. Registration closes a week before the first round of presentations, on June 11.