Upcoming Communication Workshops!

OPD helps students and postdocs improve their writing and presenting skills through a variety of programs offered throughout the year.
 
Three Minute Thesis Info Session
Wednesday, January 7th - 1:00-2:00pm (online)
Join us in early 2026 for UMass's 10th annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition! This popular event challenges graduate students to communicate the significance of their research to a general audience, all in three minutes or less, with generous prize money available. It's a great way to practice communicating with non-experts and prepare for the job market! This Info Session will outline competition rules, offer strategies to prepare your presentation, and share tips for getting comfortable with public speaking. All participants in the 2026 3MT must attend an Info Session.
 
Communicating Your Expertise Quickly
Thursday, January 8th - 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.
 
Public Speaking—for the Anxious and the Not-So-Anxious
Friday, January 9th - 12:00-1:00pm (online)
“There are only two types of speakers in the world: the nervous and the liars.”–Mark Twain. Speaking to an audience is important for your professional life, but that doesn’t mean we get a lot of training in it. Come learn the tips and tricks that will make you a more confident public speaker, convince your audience of your brilliance, and leave a lasting impression.
 
Communicating Your Research Quickly
Wednesday, January 14th - 1:00-2:00pm (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.
 
How Do I Sound More Scholarly?: Demystifying the Elements of Academic Writing
Wednesday, January 14th - 2:45-3:45pm (online)
Do you want your writing to sound more “scholarly”? Academic writing expectations vary across cultural and disciplinary lines – and are rarely explained explicitly! You can, however, become more confident in your tone and style with the help of a few simple revision strategies. In this workshop, you will learn techniques you can use to determine the tone, organization, and style appropriate for your discipline and how to apply those insights to your own writing.
 
Writing the “Good Enough” Dissertation
Thursday, January 15th - 12:45-1:45pm (515 Goodell)
A good dissertation is a done dissertation – but what makes a dissertation "done"? In this workshop, we'll discuss the difference between an in-process draft and the "good enough" draft that is ready for defense and submission. We'll also introduce research-based guidelines to help you communicate effectively with your advisor and reflect on your progress.
 
How to Stay on Track, Even If You’re Not Able to Write Every Day
Tuesday, January 20th - 2:00-3:00pm (online)
A major benefit of a daily writing routine is that you always know where you’re at in your project. But what if it’s just not possible for you to write every day? This workshop will introduce a simple yet effective practice for staying on top of your ideas even when you go days without writing, allowing you to (almost) seamlessly jump back into a writing session when you can.
 
Crafting Slides for Engaging Presentations
Wednesday, January 21st - 1:00-2:00pm (online)
Do you ever envy a presenter’s slick presentation? Do you wish you could convey your data simply and tell a great story that engages your audience? Join us to learn how to design slides that capture attention and convey your meaning!
 
Public Speaking—for the Anxious and the Not-So-Anxious
Thursday, January 22nd - 12:00-1:00pm (online)
“There are only two types of speakers in the world: the nervous and the liars.”–Mark Twain. Speaking to an audience is important for your professional life, but that doesn’t mean we get a lot of training in it. Come learn the tips and tricks that will make you a more confident public speaker, convince your audience of your brilliance, and leave a lasting impression.
 
Writing with ADHD
Friday, January 23rd - 12:00-1:15pm (online)
If you're used to a boom-and-bust cycle of productivity, then grad school is often where you hit your writing wall. Join Dr. Kirby Conrod (Swarthmore College) to learn about adaptive strategies for writing large projects (like a thesis or dissertation!) from a neurodiverse perspective, with a focus on sustainable methods that don't lead to burn-out or crunch periods. All are welcome! While the strategies were developed for writers with ADHD, they can be beneficial to all.

Spring Shut Up & Write Tuesdays
Tuesdays, February 3rd 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!

Writing with ADHD: A Discussion Section
Tuesday, February 3rd - 1:00-2:00pm (516 Goodell)
Did you get a lot of great ideas at our "Writing with ADHD" workshop? Join fellow graduate students to talk through what works for you and collaboratively brainstorm strategies for different writing challenges. (You are welcome, even if you weren't able to attend the previous workshop!)
 
Semester Planning Clinic: Making a Strategic Writing Plan from Now to May
Wednesday, February 11th - 2:00-3:30pm (551 Goodell)
Getting your semester off to a strong start requires knowing where you want to go and how you plan on getting there. This interactive clinic will provide strategies to plan your writing work and give you time to make those plans. Bring planners, calendars, syllabi, schedules of family members, access to email—anything you need to make a map of the semester.
 
Communicating Your Expertise Quickly
Wednesday, February 18th - 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.
 
Effective Poster Design
Thursday, February 19th - 1:00-2:00pm (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.
 
Public Speaking—for the Anxious and the Not-So-Anxious
Tuesday, February 24th - 10:00-11:00am (online)
“There are only two types of speakers in the world: the nervous and the liars.”–Mark Twain. Speaking to an audience is important for your professional life, but that doesn’t mean we get a lot of training in it. Come learn the tips and tricks that will make you a more confident public speaker, convince your audience of your brilliance, and leave a lasting impression.

Keep Writing While Teaching
Wednesday, February 25th - 12:15-1:15pm (515 Goodell)
Many instructors struggle to move forward with their research while teaching during the semester. But it is hard to give up 13 weeks of writing each fall and spring – and it can be even harder to get back into writing when the semester ends. In this workshop, you will learn concrete strategies to prioritize writing *and* handle teaching – none of which require you to wake up at 5am! While this workshop is explicitly about writing and teaching, anyone working to balance writing with other responsibilities is welcome to attend!
 
Communicating Your Research Quickly
Wednesday, February 25th - 2:30-3:30pm (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.
 
Crafting Slides for Engaging Presentations
Tuesday, March 3rd - 12:00-1:00pm (online)
Do you ever envy a presenter’s slick presentation? Do you wish you could convey your data simply and tell a great story that engages your audience? Join us to learn how to design slides that capture attention and convey your meaning!