Nutshell Games to inspire both audience and presenters
Virginia Tech graduate students from seven different colleges will hit the stage on November 2nd for a fast-paced research presentation competition at the Moss Arts Center.
Nervousness rushed through Anza Mitchell as she stepped onto the stage in front of a panel of judges and live audience.
A graduate student struggling with public speaking and anxiety on that day in 2017, Mitchell was given 90 seconds to present her research in a manner both compelling and understandable to those outside of her field.
“Although I felt very nervous, my experience was great,” said Mitchell, now assistant director of science pedagogy at Harvard University. “The title of my presentation was ‘That’s Engineering?!’ I spoke about my work at the time, which was focused on exposing middle and high school students to careers in science and engineering that are less heard of.”
Mitchell M.S. '18 was one of 28 Virginia Tech graduate students who took part in the Center for Communicating Science’s first Nutshell Games competition in 2017. Now an annual event, the games draw students from across Virginia Tech to present their research using everyday language and a prop in just over a minute. The goal is to develop their communication skills and propel them down their career paths.
“The Nutshell Games inspired me to apply for my current position, where I get to lead seminars and work with graduate students on skills like lecturing and leading study sessions,” Mitchell said. “I really enjoyed both learning communication skills and the community we formed in the course, which are both things I try to bring to my seminars.”
This year’s Nutshell Games will take place Nov. 2 at 4:30 p.m. at the Moss Arts Center and will include 30 Virginia Tech graduate students. A panel of eight judges from the university and surrounding community, including two local middle school students, will evaluate their presentations and name five awardees. The home departments of the winners will receive $500 for the winner's use in program-sanctioned research costs or conference participation. Participant also will receive professionally recorded videos of their presentations.
This year’s presentation topics will include, but are not limited to, dancing quarks, salt-eating bugs, detecting landmines by listening, controlling alien species, the secrets to time travel, and using QR codes to track the flight time of bees. Admission is free and open to the public.
Now in its 10th iteration, the games have become one of the Center for Communicating Sciences’ signature events. Directed by Patty Raun, Alumni Distinguished Professor of Theatre Arts, and Associate Director Carrie Kroehler, the center provides opportunities for scientists, scholars, health professionals, and others to develop their abilities to communicate and connect with people outside of their professions. Its overarching goal is to deepen human interaction, strengthen empathy and awareness of others, and develop collaborative team and leadership capacities.
Besides helping develop graduate research students’ public speaking and communication skills, the event also provides an evening of entertainment for the audience — so much so that the games now have a loyal fanbase.
Bruce Hull, professor in the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation and center advisory board member, has attended most, if not all, of the Nutshell Games.
“Initially I attended because I believe in and want to support the Center for Communicating Science, but then I continued attending because it is so fun,” Hull said. “I return each time because I like to see acts of courage, and I am inspired by the talented presenters and their projects. It gives the audience a preview of tomorrow's problem-solvers and makes me hopeful for the future.”
Not only have the games inspired many to attend every year, but it has also motivated other Virginia Tech students, like graduate student and Institute for Critical Science Technology and Applied Science fellow Jessica Spence, to enroll in communicating science courses.
“I found myself understanding the concept of the presenters' research, even if I knew nothing about their topic or area of specialization,” said Spence, who is studying agriculture, leadership, and community education. “Attending inspired me to enroll in the communicating science course. Although my background is in communications, it was clear that the Center for Communicating Science had techniques and approaches I had yet to learn. For me, the course was one of the highlights of my time as a graduate student.”
Find the complete list of 2024 Nutshell Game participants and judges.
