Grad student 90-second thesis contest welcomes viewers

Students, faculty and staff can watch graduate students present short elevator pitches about their research at the second annual Graduate Student 90-Second Thesis Competition Feb. 21.

Grad students will stand before an audience and give a brief overview of their work and why it’s important. They have been instructed to develop a pitch as if they were on the elevator at an academic conference with a potential employer or investor and have only 90 seconds — the length of the elevator ride — to convince that person that their research is interesting and worthy of support.

A panel of faculty, staff and alumni will judge the grad students on the content and manner of their presentations.

Attendees are invited to arrive at 5 p.m. at Duncan Hall’s McMurtry Auditorium for refreshments. The first round of the competition begins at 5:30. After a brief intermission, the second round of the competition will begin at 6:30.

A social and an awards ceremony will be held from 7:15 to 8.