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October 6, 2020In this issue: Communicating your research to a general audience, voting deadlines, and more.
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Tips for Grads: Communicating Your Research to a General Audience
Digging deep into highly specialized topics to challenge norms, create knowledge, and advance scholarship is a defining characteristic of graduate education. This work is critical to solving the problems that our society faces, regardless of your discipline. However, putting your specialized knowledge and skills to use in the real world requires the ability to communicate about your research and scholarship with people outside of your discipline.
Also, if you are a doctoral or research-based master’s student interested in improving your research communication and competing for cash prizes, consider registering for UW-Madison’s 2020-21 Three Minute Thesis Competition. The deadline for submissions has been adjusted to Oct 11 at 11:59 pm to allow for more students to register.
While you won’t become an expert research communicator overnight, here are a few tips from American Meteorological Society President and UGA Professor Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd that can help you become a more effective communicator right now.
- Know your audience. Research and understand your audience, then take the time to tailor your message accordingly.
- Don’t use jargon. Using technical language is one of the fastest ways to alienate your audience, but when you are deeply embedded in your discipline specialized vocabulary starts to seem like everyday parlance. Think carefully about your word choice and avoid jargon at all costs!
- Get to the point. Unlike academic audiences who demand a staggering level of background information, general audiences will want you to share your key points early, while keeping it brief.
- Use analogies and metaphors. These tools allow you to make connections from your work to things that the audience already understands.
- Three points. When possible, try to stick to three main points, as research continues to show that this is an effective communication strategy.
- Relate. Put yourself in your audience’s shoes and take the approach that will best allow you to relate to the core values of your audience.
GradConnections Weekly is looking for fresh perspectives on the graduate student experience.
If you have advice, counsel, or tips for UW grad students, you’re invited to write a guest column for “Tips for Grads.”
If you’re interested, check out our infographic for details and email gspd@grad.wisc.edu to let us know.
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DiscoverPD is an innovative tool for UW–Madison graduate students to advance their academic and professional goals. Review the nine facets of professional development, complete a self-assessment, and get a customized report and recommendations.
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Upcoming Professional Development EventsAll event times and deadlines are listed in Central Daylight Time (CDT).
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Do you often feel drained by departmental drama? Do feel unclear about how to handle conflicts that arise in your department? Are you unsure when, where, and how to manage conflict with people who will be voting on your tenure?
Academics are notoriously conflict avoidant and the inability to manage conflict can result in negative physical, emotional, and relational consequences for tenure-track faculty. So why not learn early in your career to master the skill of healthy conflict so that you can effectively manage conflicts as they arise and avoid carrying around all of the negative energy, anger and resentment in your mind and body. Click here to activate your NCFDD account through the UW–Madison institutional membership.
If you have completed your Bachelor’s degree or you have several years of work experience under your belt, then this resume and cover letter workshop is for you. We’ll review resume content and design, discuss the best ways to align your qualifications with the position description, and learn how to build an effective argument in your cover letter, persuading decision-makers that you are the best person for the job. Please bring your own resume and cover letter to discuss.
Communicating your research to a non-specialist audience is an essential career skill, whether you’re preparing for job interviews, networking at a conference, or just trying to explain to family and friends what you do with your time. This workshop, sponsored by The Writing Center and the Graduate School Office of Professional Development, will help graduate students from all disciplines to prepare an accessible, intriguing three-minute talk about their research. If you’re interested in learning how to craft a concise, general explanation of your research, or if you plan to participate in the 3MT® Three-Minute Thesis competition, this virtual workshop is for you.
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R Visualization
Friday, Oct 9 | 10 am - noon
Online | Registration full, Waitlist available
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Special Events & Symposia
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Project Management for Leaders
Part of the Office of Human Resources Fully Prepared to Lead series. Graduate assistants may register.
Wednesday, Oct 7 | 9 am - noon
Online
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Deadlines for the Nov 3 General Election:
- Oct 14: Deadline to register to vote by mail or online
- Oct 29, 5 pm: Deadline to request an absentee ballot
Enrollment Dates & Deadlines:Winter commencement ceremony to be held virtually
Due to the ongoing pandemic response, UW–Madison will confer more than 2,000 degrees on Dec 13 via a virtual commencement celebration. Read the full announcement about winter commencement. Students who would like their name to appear in the virtual commencement program should use the “Apply to Graduate” function in the MyUW Student Center by Nov 6. (Please note that “Apply to Graduate” is separate from the Graduate School’s degree completion process.) Academic regalia for commencement celebrations is available for rent or purchase from University Book Store.
Register for the UW–Madison Diversity Forum
The 2020 UW–Madison Diversity Forum, “The Pandemic Effect: Exposing Racism & Inequities” will be held virtually on Oct 27-28. The forum will explore a convergence of contemporary issues from racial equity and social justice to disparities in health care and white privilege during two full days of speakers and interactive sessions. The virtual event is open to the public and registration is open now. On opening day, the speaker will be Robin DiAngelo, PhD, author of the widely acclaimed bestseller “White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism”. On day two, the guest speaker will be Austin Channing Brown, author of New York Times bestseller, “I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness.”
Resources available for students with children
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Help prevent the spread of COVID-19
With your help, we can help limit the spread of the disease by following campus, local, state and federal guidelines for COVID-19. This includes maintaining at least six feet of distance from people you don’t live with, wearing face coverings, and getting tested for the virus if you have symptoms or have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19. COVID-19 Testing Information >>
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Get your free flu shot
- Thursday, Oct 8, 9 am - 7 pm, Nicholas Recreation Center
- Friday, Oct 9, 9 am - 7 pm, Nicholas Recreation Center
- Saturday, Oct 10, 9 am - 7 pm, Nicholas Recreation Center
- Monday, Oct 12, 9 am - 7 pm, Nicholas Recreation Center
- Tuesday, Oct 13, 9 am - 7 pm, Nicholas Recreation Center
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Virtual Care PackageUniversity Health Services’ Badger Virtual Care Package highlights ways to stay connected and healthy. Though it was made with people who are quarantined due to a positive COVID-19 test in mind, the resources listed here can be beneficial for anyone looking for some self-care ideas.
Mental Health Resources for Grad StudentsAccording to the 2019 Healthy Minds Survey, 93% of UW–Madison graduate students do not think any less of a peer who seeks mental health care, and 89% of UW–Madison graduate students who used mental health care found it helpful.
- SilverCloud. This online, self-guided resource provides treatment options 24 hours a day through evidence-based modules on anxiety, depression, body image, and stress. SilverCloud is designed to help students manage day-to-day stresses and improve resilience.
- YOU@WISC. This portal has tools and information to help you be well, with modules on stress management, self-care, social support, suicidal thoughts, mindfulness, academic wellness, and more.
- Virtual Lets Talk. An informal, confidential consultation with a counselor to help gain insight, support, and information about other resources. Virtual meetings are available daily and registration is required a day before the session.
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The Dean of Students Office provides resources to students struggling with a variety of issues, and can be your go-to spot for assistance as a graduate student. To contact the Graduate and Professional Student Assistance Specialist Elaine Goetz-Berman directly, email egoetz2@wisc.edu.
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Please note: Some graduate students may be ineligible to hold graduate assistantship appointments. Be sure to check with your graduate program coordinator about your eligibility before applying.
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The Luce Scholars Program provides a year-long internship in an Asian country related to the scholar's interests. The program is designed for highly qualified young scholars, including graduate students, who would not gain knowledge of an Asian country through their normal career trajectories. Students from any professional field are eligible, except for Asian Affairs/Asian Studies. Nominees must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, under age 30 at the beginning of the program, and not have extensive engagement in Asian affairs. Please direct questions regarding this program to Mark Lilleleht at awards@iris.wisc.edu.
The Office of the Provost is soliciting proposals from faculty, staff and students for the 2020-21 Ira and Ineva Reilly Baldwin Wisconsin Idea Endowment grant competition. Proposals are encouraged for new outreach and public engagement activities that partner with community and off-campus organizations to extend and apply our research, education and clinical knowledge to help solve problems or take advantage of opportunities. This year, project leaders must demonstrate how the proposed project can make progress under current COVID-19 health and safety restrictions. The committee will consider funding approximately ten Seed projects of $4,000 or less, in addition to larger awards of up to $120,000. Several online information sessions will be held in October. For detailed pre-proposal guidelines and information session dates, see the Reilly Baldwin Wisconsin Idea Endowment webpage.
The Morgridge Center for Public Service offers community-based research (CBR) grants of up to $5,000 for faculty, staff, and graduate students to design and implement a new CBR project, add a CBR component to an existing project, or continue an ongoing CBR project toward a new phase or by adding a new element. The grant supports projects in any discipline and at all levels that engage with community organizations, public sector entities, or grassroots groups.
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