Upcoming Communication Workshops!

OPD helps students and postdocs improve their writing and presenting skills through a variety of programs offered throughout the year.

Spring Shut Up & Write Tuesdays
Tuesdays, Now through May 12th - 9:00am-12:00pm (515 Goodell)
Writing alongside others is a best practice for academic writing! This weekly drop-in provides time and space to write while caffeinated - come late or leave early. We'll make the coffee; you do the writing. One pre-registration for the "Spring Series" is required; attend one week or attend them all!
 
Effective Poster Design
Tuesday, April 21st - 10:00-11:00am (online)
Conference coming up? Not sure how to make a great poster? Come get a crash-course in making a poster presentation. We’ll cover the basics of graphic design, and the software you need. Get feedback and learn how to use your poster to network in your field and promote your research.
 
Communicating Your Expertise Quickly
Wednesday, April 29th - 10:00-11:00am (online)
Communicating what you do effectively can be tough, and it can be even tougher when your audience doesn’t share your expertise. Success hinges on your ability to articulate what you are doing and why it is worth doing, whether your goal is to communicate the relevance of your work, recruit a potential collaborator, impress a prospective employer, or finally have your family understand what you do. In this session, participants will draft a short explanation of their work that avoids jargon and engages audiences.
 
The 5 Things You Need to Do to Prep Your Writing for Summer Vacation
Monday, May 11th - 11:00-11:30am (online)
We all know that breaks are important for our well-being and long-term productivity, but how do we take time off without losing momentum on our projects? The key to both a restorative break and a productive return is to take small steps to prepare your writing—and yourself!—in advance. Join us to learn the five things you need to do before you leave campus so that you’re able to come back from vacation refreshed, renewed, and ready to pick up where you left off.
 
Deep Work / Slow Productivity: When You Need Time to Think and Write
Tuesday, May 19th - 12:30-1:45pm (online)
Perhaps you’ve heard of the Pomodoro technique for short, productive writing stints, but are finding this doesn’t really work for you. Do you need longer stretches of time to make headway in your research and writing? This workshop is for anyone intrigued by the promise of “deep work” and looking to add a handful of slow productivity techniques to their repertoire.
 
Effective Poster Design
Tuesday, May 26th - 10:00-11:00am (online)
Conference coming up? Not sure how to make a great poster? Come get a crash-course in making a poster presentation. We’ll cover the basics of graphic design, and the software you need. Get feedback and learn how to use your poster to network in your field and promote your research.