Lightning talks

This event is part of the GRADventure Professional Skills Conference. Visit the conference web page for a full schedule of events.

Join us as we begin the April sessions of the GRADventure Professional Skills Conference! 

At this session, you’ll hear several short lightning talks from four different University of Waterloo staff members presenting on relevant topics from their areas of expertise. After the lightning talks, you’ll have an opportunity to join a breakout room with one of our lightning talk facilitators to learn more about the topic and ask questions.

Lightning talks:

• Managing your research data; presented by Kathy Szigeti and Sandra Keys, Liaison Librarians and Research Data Management Specialists
  • Whether you are collecting your own research data or are part of a research team, managing your research data is of prime importance. And with the recent finalization of the Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy, any grant applications to CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC will need to include a data management plan (DMP). This lightning talk will introduce the new Policy and the DMP Assistant, a tool designed to assist you in writing a solid DMP.
• Identifying and strengthening your writing habits; presented by Nadine Fladd, Writing and Multimodal Communication Specialist, Graduate, Postdoctoral and Faculty Support
  • In this talk you’ll learn how to use a quick online assessment tool to reflect on your writing habits and identify where you have room to grow as a writer. We will then review some strategies to adopt based on what areas of your writing practice have room for growth.
• Zoom fatigue; presented by Cheri Bilitz, Director, Counselling Services
  • The pandemic has changed the way we meet with one another—most of us spend a good portion of our day in front of our computer screen in virtual meetings.  “Zoom fatigue”  is now a recognized condition.  In this talk you’ll learn about the effects of Zoom fatigue and helpful strategies to minimize these effects on you and those in meetings with you. 

• Navigating a new work place culture; presented by Kira Bruschke, Graduate Career Advisor, Centre for Career Action

  • In this talk, we will explore how to understand work place expectations, and how to navigate a new workplace while also considering staying authentic to your true self.

Additional talks and speaker details coming soon!

Additional Information

• Registration is required through Eventbrite. 
• This session is taking place on Zoom, and will utilize the self-select breakout room feature. In order to ensure you can access the breakout rooms, please join with the Zoom desktop or mobile app (updated to version 5.3.0 or higher), rather than through your web browser.
• The lightning talks will be recorded and made available to University of Waterloo graduate students and postdocs through our secure conference recording request form. Please check the conference web page approximately one week after the live session.
• A link to the live session will be emailed to registered attendees two days prior to the event, as well as the day of the event.