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Strategic Science Communication: Mastering the Art of Presenting to a Lay Audience

Learn how to present your poster to all type of audiences!

Location

University Center : 310

Date & Time

March 26, 2026, 2:00 pm3:00 pm

Description

Calling all research symposium presenters!

GEARS and GSPD presents a workshop to hone your presentation skills:

Presenting Your Research Poster to an Interdisciplinary Audience

Are you presenting a poster at the upcoming GEARS Research Symposium or an interdisciplinary conference? Join us for a practical workshop designed to help you communicate your research effectively to a broad audience. 

A chance to win a raffle for $25 by attending the event! Two winners will be selected at the end of the event. 

Date: 03/26/2026
Time: 2pm - 3pm
Venue: UC 310

Why This Workshop Matters

Unlike traditional academic conferences, GEARS brings together researchers and high level university officials from diverse fields. Most visitors to your poster won't share your specialized background, making it essential to communicate your work in accessible, engaging ways that resonate across disciplines.

What You Will Learn

  • Strategies for explaining complex concepts to non-specialist audiences.
  • How to identify and communicate the broader significance of your research.
  • Techniques for adapting your message on the fly based on your audience.
  • How to read your poster visitor and engage them effectively.
  • Tips for handling questions from outside your field.

This event is a collaboration between the Graduate Student & Postdoctoral Development (GSPD) team and the Graduate Experiences, Achievements, and Research Successes (GEARS) committee of the Graduate Student Association (GSA).


RSVP your attendance on this link and add to your calendar.

Snacks will be provided with desserts! Come, there is enough for you all! 
This flyer advertises an upcoming professional development workshop at UMBC. Here is a detailed description of the visual and textual elements:

Event Title & Theme
Main Title: "Strategic Science Communication: Mastering the Art of Presenting to a Lay Audience"

Format: Workshop

Visual Style: The background features a dark chalkboard framed by light wood, set against a lavender-colored border. The text uses a mix of white cursive, bronze-textured serif, and bold yellow sans-serif fonts.

Event Details
The bottom left of the flyer contains a large, light-gray jagged "burst" shape with the following logistical information:

Date: Thursday, March 26, 2026

Time: 2 – 3 PM

Format: In Person

Location: University Center: 310

Key Organizations & Logos
In the top right corner, several institutional logos are displayed:

UMBC Graduate School: The university’s official shield and wordmark.

GSPD: A colorful logo with four circles (Orange G, Teal S, Orange P, Teal D).

GEARS: The "Graduate Experiences, Achievements, and Research Successes" logo, which features a brain/gear hybrid icon and identifies itself as part of the Graduate Student Association.

Imagery
On the right side, there is a photograph of a smiling woman with blonde hair, wearing a light gray or white blazer. She is gesturing with her hand toward the event details, acting as a visual guide for the viewer