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, 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!