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Speaking of Science – Thursday 2 May 2013

A Conference and Poster Competition for Postgraduate Researchers at Cardiff University and Neighbouring Institutions

ABOUT THE EVENT

The annual Speaking of Science conference is a unique and very popular student led event for all postgraduate researchers in the physical, biomedical and life sciences at Cardiff University and neighbouring institutions. The conference provides a valuable opportunity for postgraduates to find out about research being pursued and establish useful links. The event, organised by postgraduates and University Graduate College staff, is intended to be very different to postgraduate research days held within academic Schools as it will give participants the opportunity to present their research to a non-specialist audience in a supportive environment.

Postgraduate researchers will give 10 minute talks and present posters across a wide range of subjects and disciplines, giving a fascinating insight into the research that is taking place across the University and at neighbouring institutions. The conference subject area is kept deliberately broad – this makes for more interesting presentations and cross subject fertilisation of ideas.

Join the Facebook group for Speaking of Science or follow us on Twitter @SpeakingofSci

The Call for Abstracts is now closed. If you would like to attend the conference as a non-presenting delegate, please click here.

To view the Speaking of Science 2013 Call for Abstracts, please click here.

WHO CAN ATTEND?

This conference is open to all MPhils and PhDs across the physical sciences and engineering, and the biomedical and life sciences at Cardiff University. The event is also open to students from local institutions (UWIC, Glamorgan, Swansea, Newport, Bristol). This is a student only event and no members of academic staff will be present.

SUBMITTING YOUR ABSTRACT

The Call for Abstracts is now closed. If you would like to attend the conference as a non-presenting delegate, please click here.

To view the Speaking of Science 2013 Call for Papers, please click here.

Please remember that your abstract should be understandable to a general scientific audience. An example of a good abstract is shown below:

“Making Jello with Medicines?
Gels are often encountered in our everyday lives; let it be as hair gel or summery strawberry jello. Although being composed predominately of liquid, they appear solid-like. In our research, we have found systems where gels can be formed with fluorinated liquids. These liquids have recently been the focus of much attention as therapeutic molecules (e.g. lung fluid replacements and blood substitutes). Therefore, combining both worlds and designing gels made of fluorinated liquids opens a wide range of perspectives. In this presentation, we will see how these gels are formed and question the mechanisms behind such a phenomenon.”

The Speaking of Science student committee will consider all abstracts received and you will be informed via e-mail within two weeks of the deadline as to whether or not your abstract has been accepted. Places are limited on this very popular conference, so book early to secure your place!

PRE-EVENT TRAINING

There will be pre-event workshops to assist you in tailoring your presentation:

Conference Posters – 7 March 2013
Presentation Skills – 12 March 2013
Presenting Research Orally – 23 April 2013

To book, click here

Please note that the pre-event workshops are only open to Cardiff University Students.

PRIZES/JUDGING

Cash prizes will be awarded for the best talks and the best posters which will be judged by a panel of postgraduate researchers. You can also be provided with feedback on your presentation if you feel that this would be valuable to you.

Talks and posters will be judged mainly on content/structure/delivery and how accessible you made your research to a non-specialist audience. Talks and posters that are too technical in their nature will not score as highly as those which have been modified to suit a general scientific audience.

Talks should be no longer than 10 minutes long, and posters can be up to A0 size. Please be prepared to answer questions from the audience on your research.