Supporting Graduate Students' Academic and Professional Success
Are you a grad student conducting research or working on a creative project at UCR?
Eager to share that work with the campus community and broader public?
Looking to get feedback on your presentation skills?
Interested in potentially winning a lot of money?
If you answered yes to any (or all) of these questions… Grad Slam 2020 is for you!
What is a Grad Slam?
Grad Slam is a UC-wide competition in which graduate students have the opportunity to showcase their research or creative projects in short, compelling talks with limited visual aids. Participating students hone their professional skills as they practice articulating the importance of their work in a clear, engaging manner. Presentations last just 3 minutes and are conducted before an audience and a panel of judges that provide the speakers with feedback.
It’s a little like a TED talk, but with money. And you don’t have to wear those tiny microphones on your face.
Say more about the money.
Graduate Division awards the speaker that is highest-rated by the judges with a $5,000 fellowship! The winner will then have the opportunity to advance to the UCOP Finals for a chance to win another $6,000 fellowship.
But that’s not all! Graduate Division will also award $2,000 to the first runner-up, $1,000 to the second runner-up, $1,000 to the speaker who wins the audience choice vote, $100 to each of up to 8 honorable mentions, and $500 to the highest-rated poster presenter at the finals.
This sounds cool! How do I get in on it?
The online application will open at 9am on Monday, January 6th and close at 5pm on Friday, January 31st.
All applicants are required to attend one orientation session. Orientations will be held on:
Wednesday, January 15th, 10-11am (Center for Ideas and Society)
Thursday, January 16th, 2-3pm (LFSC 1425)
Friday, January 17th, 12-1pm (LFSC 1425)
Tuesday, January 21st, 10-11am (LFSC 1425)
Wednesday, January 22nd, 3-4pm (LFSC 1425)
Friday, January 24th, 12-1pm (LFSC 1425)
Tuesday, January 28th, 2-3pm (Center for Ideas and Society)
Thursday, January 30th, 12-1pm (LFSC 1425)
When does it all go down?
All participants are invited to compete in the Preliminary Rounds for a chance to advance to the Semi Final! Semi-Final winners will then advance to the UCR Finals, and the winner of that competition will compete at the UCOP Finals, to be held at the LinkedIn Headquarters in San Francisco.
Dates are as follows:
Preliminary Rounds:
- Round I: Tuesday, February 11th, 3-4pm (HUB 367)
- Round II: Wednesday, February 12th, 10-11am (HUB 367)[
- Round III: Thursday, February 13th, 12-1pm (HUB 367)
- Round IV: Thursday, February 13th, 1:30-2:30pm (HUB 367)
Semi-Final Rounds:
- Tuesday, February 18th, 3-4pm (HUB 367)
- Thursday, February 20th, 12-1pm (HUB 260)
UCR Grad Slam Finals: Tuesday, March 3rd, 3:00-6:00pm (Culver Center of the Arts in Downtown Riverside)
UCOP Grad Slam Finals: Friday, May 8th, Time TBD
Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity – apply today! And bring your friends to cheer you on to better your chances at winning the $1,000 Audience Choice Award!