Each year the GradShow hosts a keynote featuring a speaker who discusses research communication, interdisciplinary collaboration, and/or the broader impact of graduate scholarship.
2019
Melissa Marshall keynote address: “Talk nerdy to me: Engaging audiences in your research“.
Marshall is internationally known for her TED talk “Talk Nerdy to Me” which has garnered over 2 million views. Marshall is on a mission: to transform how scientists, engineers and scholars present their work. When scientists can’t communicate their ideas with clarity and confidence, innovation stagnates and powerful solutions to our pressing problems aren’t implemented.
2020
Rich Feller keynote address: “Getting Networked, Found, and Valued in Virtual Times“.
Networking requires reflection and clarity to tell your story. Moving from isolation to connection, affirming value, receiving feedback, and acting on possibilities shapes career success. Dr. Feller hosted a virtual keynote that included interactive practice of these skills.
2021
Randy Olson keynote address: “Communicating with the ABT framework: Confronting the Information Malestrom“.
Dr. Olson, a marine biologist turned filmmaker, received his Ph.D. in biology from Harvard University in 1984. Randy has worked on several short films and documentaries, many of which draw on his science background and incorporate humor.
2022
Nalini Nadkarni keynote address: “Tapestry Thinking: Weaving Approaches of Academia to Address Society’s Challenges”.
Dr. Nadkarni’s concerns about the negative impacts of human activities such as climate change and deforestation have prompted her to develop the approach of “tapestry thinking” – the intentional connection of multiple ways of knowing.
2023
Kasha Patel keynote address: “A Comedian’s Guide to Science“.
Science communicator and comedian Kasha Patel specializes in science-themed comedy, turning studies into punchlines and scientific misconceptions into gags.
2024
Samuel Ramsey keynote address: “Hive and Prejudice: The Enduring Obstacle to Saving the Bees”.
Dr. Ramsey always expected that the tough part of being a bee researcher would be figuring out what’s killing the bees. However, along his path to becoming a scientist, he encountered the same obstacles that slow our progress in protecting our pollinators.
2025
Jonathan Schwabish keynote address: “Better Charts, Bigger Impact: The Art and Science of Data Communication”.
Dr. Schwabish is a recognized leader in the data visualization field and a strong advocate for clarity and accessibility in research. He has written extensively about best practices for data visualization, including technical aspects of creation, design best practices, and strategies for accessibly communicating social science research.