It’s Christmas dinner, and Aunt June asks, “So I hear that you’re doing a PhD… what’s that all about?” What do you say to her to explain your work before she gets bored and goes off to play with your baby cousin? What about when you run into your favorite researcher at a conference – what do you say so that they remember you when you get in touch with them to apply for a postdoc? The ability to explain your research concisely to a non-specialist audience is a critical research skill. In this workshop, we will learn how to craft the perfect three-minute pitch. We will discuss how to structure your pitch with the right balance of scientific content and excitement. We will discuss how to deal with jargon without oversimplifying and how to target your pitch to specific audiences. Finally, I will give you all my tips and tricks for giving a top-quality presentation of any length and for beating presentation nerves. By the end of the workshop, you should have a draft pitch that you can use to promote yourself in any situation, from a conference to family dinner.  

Gavrielle Untracht is an Assistant Professor at the Technical University of Denmark with expertise in Biophotonics. She is also a 2024 Optica Ambassador with a passion for science communication and community outreach.