CPCD-WR-07 - Public Speaking & Professional Communication Series

Course Description

The Public Speaking and Professional Communication Series contains four workshops designed to enhance your communication skills. These workshops are free for all graduate students to attend. We will be offering a $50 scholarship (credited to your student account*) to the first 50 students who register and attend two of the workshops below, or a $100 scholarship if you attend all four! Scholarships are only available for first-time attendees.

Please read the workshop descriptions, choose which of the four you would like to attend, add them to your cart, and then check out! Participants are expected to attend and engage in the workshop but are not required to prepare any materials in advance.

Students who participate will also have the option of getting free lunch at Holloway Commons after the events. 

*Your UNH student account is accessible through Webcat and is where your student fees, tuition, and other charges are processed. Any credit to your account will be automatically applied to any outstanding balance you owe. If you do not owe anything, you can receive the credited amount by requesting a refund online.

Workshop #1: Communicate Your Research, Connect with Your Audience
Location: Huddleston Hall Sunroom 
Date: September 24th
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM 
Description: Your research and your work are important, and so is your ability to communicate to others what it is that you do and why it matters. Designed for graduate students from all the disciplines, this session is your guide to translating complex work into a compelling, impactful message. You will learn to:

• Understand why it's important to be able to communicate effectively to different stakeholders 
• Identify your audience and what they care about so that you plan your message with your audience in mind
• Craft a clear, compelling message that highlights your work's impact

Workshop #2: How to Talk Like TED, led by Anna Goldsmith, TEDxPortsmouth Producer
Location: Huddleston Hall Sunroom 
Date: October 1st
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM 
Description: In this interactive 90-minute workshop, you'll explore how to: 

• Capture attention from your first line.
• Turn even complex research or ideas into language people remember.
• Write and deliver a compelling talk- even if you hate to write. 
• Use your voice for maximum impact (and why "just slow down" doesn't really work). 
• Avoid common speaker pitfalls, including the dreaded attention-span trap. 

Whether you're presenting in class, leading a student group, pitching research, or preparing for your future career, you'll leave with practical tools to elevate your presentations and make your message stick. 

Workshop #3: Visual Design Principles for Research Slides & Posters 
Location: Huddleston Hall Sunroom (Hybrid option available)
Date: October 29th
Time: 11:00 AM- 12:30 PM
Description: 

Join Lauren Gonzalez, Assistant Director of Scientific Communication in the Poorvu Center's Graduate Writing Lab, in learning how to: 

• Articulate key visual design principles that affect viewer understanding.
• Recognize common design flaws and learn how to correct them.
• Reflect on how these design principles manifest in their own fields.

A Teams link will be emailed to all registered participants for those who wish to participate virtually.  

Workshop #4: Take a Breath: The Grad Student's Guide to Confident Public Speaking
Location: Huddleston Hall Sunroom  
Date: November 5th
Time: 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Description: Ever had to speak in front of a room full of strangers? Ever had to think fast in an interview, or present a project with confidence to peers and colleagues? It can be stressful. So, let’s make it fun!

This unique, interactive workshop draws on acting techniques to provide practical tips for communicating professionally and intentionally, whether it’s in front of a team of 5 or a crowd of 500. Veteran facilitator and creative artist, CJ Lewis, will lead students through group and individual exercises designed to build confidence, embrace spontaneity, and enhance communication with your audience.