草莓污视频导航

Oct. 23, 2024

From Calgary to the national stage: A PhD student鈥檚 journey to Canada鈥檚 top academic speaking competition

Supported by 草莓污视频导航, Madeline Springle turns her research into compelling stories.
A woman with light hair and a light shirt smiles at the camera
Madeline Springle prepares to take the national stage at the 2024 CAGS 3MT Showcase on Nov. 1, 2024. Claire Sheehy, Faculty of Graduate Studies

Madeline Springle, a second-year PhD student in Industrial-Organizational Psychology in the 草莓污视频导航's , is making waves in the world of research communication. Her journey through the and the highlights her remarkable ability to transform complex research into compelling, accessible narratives 鈥 and the crucial support she received along the way.

From abstract to image: Springle's research comes to life

Springle鈥檚 research, which delves into biases in hiring outcomes in asynchronous video interviews (AVIs), captivated judges and audiences alike, at Images of Research. This competition, organized by 草莓污视频导航鈥檚 , encourages graduate students to showcase their research through a powerful image and an engaging abstract that makes complex ideas accessible to a broad, non-specialist audience. The challenge of using an image to communicate this message was an opportunity for Springle, MSc'23, to hone her research communication skills.

An artwork piece that shows two sides of a man: one in a sleek corporate setting and a second in a messy home

Springle鈥檚 2023-24 Images of Research submission, titled Scene, Not Heard: Understanding the Influence of Socioeconomic Status on Asynchronous Video Interview Evaluations.

Madeline Springle illustration using ChatGPT

What makes Springle's entry particularly compelling is that she used AI to create her image 鈥 an innovative approach that reflects her research's focus on how socioeconomic status backgrounds in AVIs can influence hiring decisions. 鈥淭he power of an image is incredible,鈥 she says. 鈥淚t allows you to convey a complex idea in an immediate, relatable way. It鈥檚 a challenge to balance the depth of your research with the simplicity needed to make it accessible to everyone, but that鈥檚 exactly what competitions like this help you to do.鈥

By using ChatGPT to craft the image, she visually communicated how the background in a video interview can sway perceptions, a timely issue as AI-driven tools become more prominent in both research and hiring practices.

Blending research depth with broader societal impact

Springle鈥檚 success in the Images of Research competition led her to the next big opportunity: the 2024 SSHRC Storytellers Challenge. This national competition encouraged participants to condense their research into a three-minute story, aimed at making complex academic work accessible and relatable to a general audience.

Condensing complex research into accessible formats was no easy task. She faced the significant challenge of distilling years of research into just a few minutes while deciding which information was most relevant for each unique audience. 鈥淔or example, at industrial-organizational psychology conferences, the audience likely has some background knowledge on topics like asynchronous video interviews, so they鈥檙e more interested in the study design and statistical findings," Springle says. "But, in competitions like SSHRC Storytellers, where the audience鈥檚 backgrounds vary widely, I had to focus on presenting the 鈥榖ig picture鈥 鈥 highlighting how the research is relevant to everyday life and the broader societal impact.鈥澛

Supported by 草莓污视频导航鈥檚 team in the , the team in the Faculty of Graduate Studies, and , Springle was able to refine her storytelling, transforming her research into a narrative that resonated with a wider audience. From multiple practice sessions to expert advice on her script, she credits much of her success to this dedicated support system.

Her efforts paid off when she was named one of the top five finalists in the Storytellers Challenge, an accomplishment that not only recognized her talent, but also emphasized the growth of her research communication skills. This achievement also led to her selection to compete at the 2024 Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS) National Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Showcase in November.

Breaking down interview barriers with video guidance

This summer, Springle launched her YouTube channel, , aimed at helping job applicants navigate the complexities of asynchronous video interviews. Inspired by the frustration she encountered in online forums where applicants discussed difficulties with these interviews, she created five-minute videos offering tips and insights to help candidates feel more prepared and confident.

"This has been a fun and innovative way to share my research with a non-specialist audience," she says. "It鈥檚 also pushed me to improve my communication skills by speaking to a new and unseen audience. Now, whenever I鈥檓 reading research, I鈥檓 constantly thinking about how I can turn it into a video that could genuinely help job candidates."

Springle's ability to bridge the gap between academic research and practical, everyday applications highlights the growth of her skills as both a researcher and a communicator, reinforcing the impact of her work beyond the academic community.

Celebrating Springle's research communication: the journey continues

Currently, Springle is preparing for the CAGS on Nov. 1 in Toronto. The competition challenges participants to present their research in an accessible and compelling way within three minutes, using only one static slide. This event celebrates innovative graduate student research while promoting communication, public speaking and storytelling skills.

She plans to leverage the skills and support she has gained through previous competitions to excel in the Showcase. 鈥淧reparing for a large-scale competition like this requires intense mental focus," she says. "I joke that I sometimes feel like I鈥檓 an Olympian for public speaking, especially with my vocal 鈥榳arm-ups鈥!鈥 Her goal is to create a connection with the audience and deliver a performance that is both entertaining and informative.

The Showcase will be a celebratory event without formal adjudication. Instead, the audience will select their favourite presentations through a People鈥檚 Choice voting round. The top three finalists will receive cash prizes, and the top two winners will advance to the 2024 North American Showcase in St. Louis, Mo.

Springle鈥檚 journey from the Images of Research competition to the SSHRC Storytellers Challenge and now to the National 3MT Showcase exemplifies her dedication to research communication. Her story is a testament to the power of storytelling in making research accessible and impactful, and a shining example of research excellence at 草莓污视频导航.聽

鈥淎t the Faculty of Graduate Studies and at the 草莓污视频导航, we take a student-centred approach to create a meaningful graduate student experience,鈥 says Dr. Tara Beattie, PhD, dean and vice-provost (Graduate Studies). 鈥淲orking closely with Madeline over the course of the past year through different competitions to further develop her research communications skills demonstrates the impact that this skillset has on both the research and general community.

鈥淚鈥檓 proud of Madeline鈥檚 hard work and dedication to convey her incredible research to a broad audience and look forward to supporting her during the CAGS National Three Minute Thesis Showcase.鈥

The 2024 National 3MT Showcase will begin on Nov. 1 at 12 p.m. MT. You watch and vote for Madeline Springle by tuning into the .

The Faculty of Arts is 草莓污视频导航鈥檚 largest faculty with more than 40 programs focused on understanding, interpreting, and innovating in ways that address complex events and circumstances. Its faculty, students and staff are critical thinkers, engaged global citizens, collaborative partners, bold leaders and creative practitioners who have the capacity to see multiple and diverse perspectives.

Knowledge to Impact (formerly Knowledge Engagement) in the Research Services Office supports collaborative efforts to maximize and recognize positive impacts of research for the benefit of our local, national and international communities. The team support and guidance on community research partnerships, knowledge mobilization, open science, research impact and responsible research-assessment practices.

As part of a vibrant and growing research-intensive institution, the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) is committed to supporting the next generation of scholars, practitioners and professionals, and encouraging the dissemination of research and innovation within the Calgary community and providing a fulfilling educational experience. FGS has more than 8,000 full- and part-time graduate students dispersed across more than 80 programs at 草莓污视频导航. The university has a goal to reach 15,000 graduate students through increasing enrolment and credentials to support upskilling and reskilling.


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