The 2nd Annual Research Slam featured three-minute talks on cutting-edge research from across MIT in an engaging public showcase and competition.
Can you tell the story of a complex research project in only three minutes? Could a presentation emerge from extreme time compression transformed like a diamond from coal? The MIT Research Slam Public Showcase on April 11 put these questions and more center stage as the four postdoc and five PhD student finalists competed for cash prizes.
The ability to compellingly pitch scientific research to a smart but non-specialized audience is a bankable skill central to success in any professional context, within academia or beyond — and the MIT Research Slam competition provides a supportive but competitive arena to hone this skill set. The Research Slam Public Showcase gives each participant 180 seconds to present their research, a format embraced by over 200 universities around the world for annual competitions. Aside from the thrill of competition, these events provide opportunities for trainees to develop and showcase their research communication skills.