Grad Slam Presenter Resources

All semifinal and final presentations must be submitted in Google Slides format and emailed to gsrc@graddiv.ucsb.edu by the deadline outlined in the sign-up form. Slides submitted in any other format will be returned, and no additional time will be granted for revisions.

Participants may submit one static slide only for the semifinal and final round. Animations, transitions, embedded media, and sound are not permitted.

For all in person rounds, the Professional Development team will create a standardized title slide for each participant. This slide will include the presenter’s name, talk title, subtitle (if applicable), and department.

Presenters may choose not to submit a slide for the in person rounds. In this case, the title slide will remain visible throughout the entirety of their talk.

For those who submit a slide for all in person rounds, the Professional Development team will automatically transition from the title slide to the participant’s slide at the start of their presentation.

The slide must be the presenter’s own work and may not be professionally designed.

Photos, graphics, and charts are permitted, but must be properly cited or attributed on the slide. Any media generated using artificial intelligence tools must be cited, including the specific platform used (Gemini, ChatGPT, Claude, etc.).

Participants are welcome to design their slide independently. An optional template is provided by the Professional Development team, and students may also consult the UC Santa Barbara visual identity guidelines for assistance. All images and text on the template may be changed.

If your presentation includes visuals, make sure to select them carefully. You’ll want to find images or tables that are visually appealing and that emphasize key aspects of your work. Most importantly: strive for simplicity! Cluttering your slides with images and text can overwhelm your audience.

• 10 Tips on How to Make Slides That Communicate Your Idea, from Ted’s In-House Expert, TED
• Presentation Zen, by Gar Reynolds
• Get access to high-resolution images from professional photographers through our campus' Digital Asset Library and the UC-wide Digital Asset Library (all photos come with photographer information for proper attribution)

• The presenter translated their research and its disciplinary significance into language that all audiences can understand.
  • Example: The presenter used clear, straightforward language and avoided unnecessary jargon, making the talk broadly understandable. They also incorporated a simple comparison to illustrate a key idea, helping the audience connect unfamiliar concepts to something more familiar.

• The presenter delivered a talk that followed a clear and logical sequence.
  • Example: The presentation followed a logical arc: introducing the research question, summarizing the methods, presenting key findings, and ending with a concise takeaway. Each section connected smoothly, making the talk easy to follow.

• The presenter used an effective performance style, including appropriate body language, eye contact, expression, volume, and pace.
  • Example: The presenter maintained steady eye contact, used open body language, and spoke with clear pacing and confident volume. Their gestures emphasized key points without distracting from the talk, creating a polished and professional performance.

• The presenter conveyed enthusiasm for their research and successfully captured and maintained the audience’s attention.
  • Example: The presenter conveyed genuine enthusiasm for their work, using vivid examples and dynamic energy to draw the audience in. Their storytelling approach kept listeners attentive and invested from start to finish.

Below are the timing parameters for the UC Santa Barbara Grad Slam competition:

• Presentations must be no longer than three minutes in total length.
• The presentation time will commence from the moment the presenter starts talking and/or making sounds or movements that are clearly part of the presentation.
• Presenters are responsible for timing themselves for all video submissions.
• During the in person rounds, a Graduate Division staff member will be seated nearby with a visible timer that presenters may reference throughout their talk. The Presenter Coordinator will point out the timer during check-in.
• No additional timing cues will be given or permitted during the presentation.
• Presentations that exceed the three-minute limit will incur point deductions from the final score as follows:
  • 3:03-3:04 - 1 point deducted
  • 3:05-3:06 - 2 points deducted
  • 3:07-3:08 - 3 points deducted
  • 3:09-3:10 - 4 points deducted
  • 3:11-3:12 - 5 points deducted
  • Deductions will continue in two-second increments.

Giving a speech can be a nerve-racking experience, but it is important to practice this skill in order to become more confident and comfortable in front of others.

• Tips and Techniques for More Confident and Compelling Presentations, by Matt Abrahams
• Conquering Stage Fright, by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America
• Four Ways to Make Your Research Presentation Stand Out, GradLife blog
• Presentation Practice Rooms, UCSB Library

There are a number of discipline-specific resources that may help you as you prepare to communicate both inside and outside of your discipline.

• "Talk nerdy to me" TED Talk with Melissa Marshall
• Communication 101: Communication Basics for Scientists and Engineers, the American Association for the Advancement of Science
• 3 Minute Thesis Competition Winners: Winning presentations from a multi-university thesis competition in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and the South Pacific
• 2026 UCSB Grad Slam Final Round