First edition – 25 March 2020, Theater Hall, Modern Languages Department, 4:30 pm

Submissions deadline: 10 March 2020

UG Talks is a place where the University of Gdańsk students and doctoral students can share their research with the greater public. The event’s formula originates from poetry slams, spoken word poetry competitions before a live audience, combined with  TEDx scientific meetings. UG Talks Science Slam encourages students and doctoral students to present their fields of study in a simple, accessible and pleasant manner to appease the audience, who actually vote for winners. The competition incorporates popular science formula of  delivering speeches with the potential of interdisciplinary education, in their essence – encouraging the wide-ranging debate.

With the use of UG Talks we wish to spark an interest  of those outside of the academic world, allowing for unique glance at the novelties from multiple scientific fields, delivered in the appealing, performative format. Science Slam gives its participants an opportunity to present the results of their work, improve public speaking skills, network and socialize, potentially even receive a prize.

UG Talks is scheduled as a series of competitions. The following criteria of speeches will be evaluated: subject matter content, clarity and style of presentation, rhetorical skills of the speaker and originality. The participants will have only 15 minutes to briefly present the selected (previously submitted) topic and win over the audience! Speaking engagements may employ visual presentations, props, models and other potential elements supporting the transfer of information.

Three editions of UG Talks are scheduled for the summer term of  2020, followed by the grand finale where the winners of every edition will compete against each other. The winning speech of every edition will receive PLN 500  for scientific purposes and the winner of the grand finale will receive PLN 2000.

SPECIAL PRIZE has been provided for the grand finale contestants (the winners of each Science Slam edition) – THE RECTOR’S STUDENT AND DOCTORAL STUDENT AWARD FOR ACADEMIC MERIT.

How does Science Slam work?

• Both speakers and audience play crucial part during the two hour show. The incoming audience members receive voting ballots at the entrance and the event participants are directed to the separate room where they await their turn to present.
• A single presentation may last up to 15 minutes. The speech stops after the specific alarm has rung.
• After each speech there is a 5 minutes Q&A session.
• After all the presentations the audience members return filled-in ballots, next the jury, having counted the votes, announces the winner.

The University of Gdańsk students and doctoral students are cordially invited to take part in the event! (as speakers). As for the audience, any member of the academic society including the university friends and supporters can join. We collect applications from  the representatives of EVERY field of science and study.

The event rules and regulations contain more detailed information: ack.ug.edu.pl/ugtalks

 Fill in the form , available at the event’s website, to apply.

Send the application to: ugtalks@ug.edu.pl

Next editions will take place as follows (the specific dates and times will be provided later):

Second edition – 15 April 2020

Third edition – May 2020

Grand finale: end of May 2020

Translation: Adam Myzyk