The Women in Engineering Program proudly presents

Sharing Your Voice, Centering Your Purpose

4th annual Grad WiE Network Symposium

at Purdue University

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

Abstracts Due: Monday, Nov. 4, 2024

Acceptance Decision: Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024

The Grad WiE Network Symposium will be held Feb. 25, 2025. It is a unique opportunity for College of Engineering graduate students to build their network, share the impact of their work in new and engaging ways, and learn from inspiring alumnae. The symposium accepts abstracts on topics associated with your research. We encourage all presenters to use active engagement strategies when presenting, so please start thinking about how you will engage your audience.

Incentives for presenters

Those who are registered for and present at the Grad WiE Network Symposium will be eligible for the WiE Travel Grant drawing. Five (5) WiE Travel Grants of $2,000 each will be randomly awarded. WiE Travel Grant funds can only be used for professional conference travel within the 2025 calendar year at which the awardee presents their novel research. Names will be drawn at the end of day closing reception. Must be a current CoE graduate student and present to win.

Key Points

• Submit a 250-400 word abstract that includes an introduction, research significance (which answers the question “why did you do this research?”), methodology, key findings and the implications of your work. Please keep in mind that your abstract likely will be reviewed by someone outside your field; thus, write for someone who may not be familiar with your research area.
• The symposium has three presentation types (outlined below). Indicate your preference when submitting your abstract.
• Each type of presentation will have limited spots available. We urge you to consider submitting your abstract to the Grand Challenges in Engineering or Pecha Kucha types.

Presentation types:

1. Grand Challenges in Engineering (NEW THIS YEAR!)
2. Pecha Kucha
3. Traditional Conference Talk

1. Grand Challenges in Engineering – To align with dean Arvind Raman’s themes for celebrating Purdue College of Engineering’s 150th anniversary, the Grad WiE Network offers the Grand Challenges in Engineering presentation style.

In this style of presentation, you will select one of four cross-sectional themes of the NAE Grand Challenges of Engineering. Include in your abstract a paragraph how your research addresses goals associated with the theme you select. For more information on each theme, please visit the YouTube videos (link provided).

1. Sustainability: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwJ5E_EUUF4
2. Health: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c05imowc7Q
3. Security: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckHdkOR1OHg
4. Joy of Living: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sk3T3_QYrT0

• Some subtopics of the above themes include, but are not limited to, providing access to clean water, advancing health informatics, reverse-engineering the brain, and advancing personalized learning.
• You will prepare a 10-minute PowerPoint presentation discussing how your research contributes to furthering one of these four themes. Each session will have four individual talks followed by a panel session where you and your fellow presenters will answer questions from the audience in a panel (i.e., discussion) format. Accordingly, you will all discuss the intersections of your novel research. As a reminder, few people will share expertise in your technical field - ensure that the discussion of the research process is accessible to a multidisciplinary audience.
• On the abstract submission form, you sign-up as an individual presenter. If your abstract is accepted for this talk type, you will be placed in a group of other submissions associated with the same Grand Challenge theme. Prior to the Symposium, we will put you in contact with the three other presenters in your session. You are not required to coordinate with the other presenters prior to the session, but we encourage you to connect.

Goal: Discuss the broader impacts of your research to a multidisciplinary audience and how your work is contributing to novel engineering innovation associated with the Grand Challenges of Engineering.

Presentation Format:

• 10-minute PowerPoint presentation (no questions after individual presentations)
• 20-minute panel session

2. Pecha Kucha – 400 seconds to tell your story with visuals guiding the way. Pecha Kucha means chit-chat in Japanese (https://www.pechakucha.com/about).

Goal: Creative use of images and storytelling to show your research; opportunity to think creatively about your work and how you convey its impact to others.

Presentation Format:

• PowerPoint with 20 images, 20 seconds each, auto-advancing slides
• 5-minute PowerPoint presentation
• 3-minute Q&A session

3. Traditional Conference Talk – The traditional way of presenting your research at an academic conference; usually has slides to aid listeners in understanding the topic. Please remember, the audience will be your peers in Graduate School but not in your field. Your talk should be understandable for those outside of your field.

Goal: Practice presenting and answering questions for a talk meant for a traditional academic conference.

Presentation Format:

• 10-minute PowerPoint presentation
• 2-minute Q&A session

The deadline for submitting abstracts was Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 and is now closed.

Acceptance decision is Nov. 27, 2024.

Please contact the Grad WiE Network Leadership team (wiepgwen@purdue.edu) with any questions or concerns