2014-15 Graduate Research Innovation Exchange Gets a Head Start
WPI’s popular annual series of events celebrating graduate research on campus will kick off earlier than usual this year, as Part 1 of the 2014-15 Graduate Research Innovation Exchange competition will take place on Dec. 10, 2014. In previous years, the event was held entirely in the spring.
The Graduate Research Innovation Exchange, now in its 10th year, is a chance for WPI graduate students to share their impressive research with the larger WPI community. It is open to all master’s and PhD students involved in research or in course- or program-related capstone projects.
For Part 1 of the competition, students design and display a poster showcasing their research at an all-day event in the Rubin Campus Center Odeum. Students present their posters to judges and are rated on criteria including poster appearance, content, and presentation.
LOOKING FOR COMPELLING POSTERS
“We’re looking for posters that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also well-organized, easy to understand, and compelling,” says Fred Looft, professor of electrical and computer engineering and systems engineering, and a member of the planning committee for the event. “Students should also demonstrate knowledge of their subject and present information clearly and concisely.”
Up to 60 posters will be selected to move on to Part 2 of the competition, scheduled for April 13, 2015. There, finalists will present to a panel of judges, and winners will be selected at the master’s and PhD levels in several categories and will receive monetary awards.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
The registration deadline for the Graduate Research Innovation Exchange competition is also earlier than usual this year, as all participants must sign up by October 29.
The second event in the series, i3: Investing in Ideas with Impact, is also open to all graduate students and encourages them to think like entrepreneurs by making three-minute pitches, without visual aids, describing the benefits and marketability of their research.
The competition begins at departmental level, moves on to semifinal events in Arts & Sciences, Engineering, and the School of Business, and concludes with a final showdown on April 13, 2015, when presentations are judged by panels of business leaders and entrepreneurs. Winners are chosen for Best Concept and Best Presentation and receive monetary awards.
Planning Committee Member Terri Camesano, Dean of Graduate Studies, encourages all graduate students to participate in one or both competitions.
“These events are excellent opportunities for students to gain practice explaining their research to external audiences as well as get feedback from academic and corporate leaders in their fields,” says Camesano. “Students can also network and learn about research being conducted by their peers.”
Organizers are currently seeking judges for Part I of Graduate Research Innovation Exchange. Judges will speak with graduate students about their posters and assign scores to determine which posters will qualify for the final competition. All faculty, alumni, and corporate partners are invited to participate. To learn more, contact Fred Looft.
See the website for information about both events, and stay tuned for additional email announcements.
