2026 CHS Research Day: From Research to Real-world Impact

Presenting at conferences, large-scale events, and formal venues (often competitively) can be nerve-wracking - especially for first time conference attendees, but even at any stage of one's career. There aren’t many lower pressure opportunities to practice preparing for those high stakes events to feel more confident when they attend the real thing. Why not that very thing and celebrate our members' hard work at the same time? Hence, the purpose of this Research Day is to provide a space to hone the aforementioned skills without the pressure.

Below are three presentation modalities presenters can sign up for. Presenters can indicate at registration which modality (as few or as many) they would like to try.

Sign up closes April 23, 2026. 

If you are doing an Oral presentation, a copy of your slides/materials are due by Friday, April 24, 2026. Please also bring a copy on a USB key.

Please send your questions to the Conference Coordinator, at mnroe@ucalgary.ca.

You have your choice of a 5-minute, low-pressure presentation, or you can challenge yourself and try your hand with a speed-round version by doing an Ignite Talk.

A 5-Minute Presentation is just that. You build out your slide deck based on the work you have done or are doing and keep it to 5 minutes. This will be timed, so practice keeping it to 5 minutes.

What is an Ignite Talk?

Simply put: it's 5 minutes per presentation (timed), 20 slides max, 15 seconds per slide, be as succinct as possible.

Ignite is an innovative and fast-paced style used to deliver a concise presentation - in this case, any projects you completed this year. During an Ignite Talk, presenters discuss their research using 20 image-centric slides, which automatically advance every 15 seconds. The result is a fun and engaging five-minute presentation. Click here to learn more.

This is a great way to challenge yourself so sign up to give an Ignite Talk! 

If you’ve never heard of Ignite Talks before, here are some resources to help you develop one:

https://scottberkun.com/2009/how-to-give-a-great-ignite-talk/

https://www.naccho.org/blog/articles/how-to-create-an-engaging-ignite-presentation

http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/ignite-presentations/

Sign up closes on April 23, 2026. A copy of your presentation must be sent to the Conference Coordinator by Friday, April 24, please also bring your presentation with you on a USB.

Please send your questions the Conference Coordinator, at mnroe@ucalgary.ca.

This is a speed-round style of presentation. Intimidating? Yes. Exhilarating to try? Also, yes. Three minutes per presentation (timed) and be as succinct as possible.

The University of Calgary hosts an annual 3-Minute Thesis competition, so we are modelling this speed round event after it to keep things simple - except we removed the competitive aspect because, again, this is for practice!

Here’s how it works: Your thesis, three minutes, one slide.

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is an internationally recognized research communication competition. Participants have three minutes to deliver a compelling presentation on their thesis research for a general audience using a single, static slide.

The 3MT helps graduate students develop skills in translating their research and its impact for non-specialists. This skill is becoming essential for many purposes:

    Funding proposals
    Transitioning into employment
    Generating interest in, awareness of and support for academic research
    Communicating with confidence and clarity to diverse audiences

The Rules:

1. A single, static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or 'movement' of any description, the slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration). Please note that using a slide is optional but strongly encouraged. Images used in the slide must be your own, or you must have permission from the owner of the photo(s) and provide proper credit(s).
2. No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
3. No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment, or laser pointers) are permitted.
4. No notes preferred. Preferably presentations are to be memorized, but if you find notes are helpful for you, feel free to use them.
5. Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum.
6. Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
7. Presentations must be based on research directly related to the student’s graduate program thesis. Research performed for employment cannot be presented.

Practice makes perfect! Give a 3MT a try!

Here are some additional resources to help you prepare:

https://pipettegazette.uthscsa.edu/2020/08/21/10-tips-for-3-minute-thesis-competition/

https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/scientificcommunication/chapter/the-3-minute-thesis/

3MT: three tips to help you prepare a winning presentation [video]

3MT: the three most common mistakes [video]

Sign up closes April 23, 2026. A copy of your presentation must be sent to the Conference Coordinator by Friday, April 24, please also bring your presentation with you on a USB.

Please send your questions to the Conference Coordinator, at mnroe@ucalgary.ca.

No frills, no gimmicks, no surprises here, the poster session is exactly that! Don't reinvent the wheel, if you have a poster you worked on this academic year, please feel free to use that for your presentation instead of producing something new that you might not use elsewhere. Alternatively, if you are preparing for an upcoming conference and have a poster you plan to present and would like the opportunity to practice your presentation among your peers, this is the spot for it! 

Poster boards are 4' (W) x 6' (H) and are Velcro adhesive only - which will be provided. Please DO NOT use thumb tacks on the poster boards.

Recommended poster orientation and size: Landscape, 4' (W) x 3' (H). If your poster is already printed, do not worry about the size or orientation for this, we will make it work!

Sign up and claim your poster board! 

Sign up closes on April 23, 2026. If you register for a poster presentation you will be assigned a poster board number by Friday, April 24. Posters do not need to be submitted in advance of the event. Please bring your poster to the Research Day for set up between 8:00-9:00 AM on April 27th.

Please send your questions to the Conference Coordinator, at mnroe@ucalgary.ca.

More hands make lighter work, and help is always appreciated! If you are interested in supporting the operational side of any or all of this event, please contact the Conference Coordinator, Mariko (mnroe@ucalgary.ca).

Details to be shared closer to the event.