CHEM 294 CHEM 294 SEMINAR IN CHEMISTRY SEMINAR IN CHEMISTRY

OverviewOverview

HandoutsHandouts►Course SyllabusCourse Syllabus►Seminar Evaluation HandoutSeminar Evaluation Handout►Seminar ScheduleSeminar Schedule

Course MaterialsCourse Materials►Departmental Chem 294 websiteDepartmental Chem 294 website

www.csus.edu/chem/chem294.html

► Course syllabusCourse syllabus► Seminar scheduleSeminar schedule► Seminar evaluation formSeminar evaluation form

► Tips and information on:Tips and information on: Preparing a literature seminar abstract.Preparing a literature seminar abstract. Preparing a literature seminar presentation.Preparing a literature seminar presentation.

Seminar OverviewSeminar Overview► Attendance Requirement:Attendance Requirement:

~15 Seminar Dates (including today’s and assuming no ~15 Seminar Dates (including today’s and assuming no cancelled seminars)cancelled seminars)

You must attend ~80% attendance of seminars (e.g. 12 You must attend ~80% attendance of seminars (e.g. 12 out of 15) – unless seminars are cancelledout of 15) – unless seminars are cancelled

► You must sign the attendance list.You must sign the attendance list.► No credit is given if you arrive after the speaker has started.No credit is given if you arrive after the speaker has started.

► Grading: Credit/No CreditGrading: Credit/No Credit Based on attendanceBased on attendance

Seminar OverviewSeminar Overview► Seminars – Fridays 1-2pmSeminars – Fridays 1-2pm

► Show up on time; don’t leave earlyShow up on time; don’t leave early► Pay attention to speakerPay attention to speaker► Please, no distractions during seminarPlease, no distractions during seminar

► Types of SeminarsTypes of Seminars MS student literature seminarsMS student literature seminars Research seminarsResearch seminars Other seminars (career seminars, undergraduate seminars)Other seminars (career seminars, undergraduate seminars)

Literature SeminarLiterature SeminarOverviewOverview

OverviewOverview► IntroductionIntroduction► How to Select the Topic and Get InformationHow to Select the Topic and Get Information► How to Organize the InformationHow to Organize the Information► How to Prepare a Professional SeminarHow to Prepare a Professional Seminar► Practice Makes PerfectPractice Makes Perfect► Seminar DaySeminar Day► SummarySummary

► Literature Seminar:Literature Seminar: Requirement for advancing to candidacy.Requirement for advancing to candidacy. The seminar can not be given the same semester as your Thesis The seminar can not be given the same semester as your Thesis

Research Seminar.Research Seminar.

► Seminar topicSeminar topic Determined in conjunction with research advisorDetermined in conjunction with research advisor Must be distinct from your research areaMust be distinct from your research area

IntroductionIntroduction

► Students are advised to give their literature seminar in Students are advised to give their literature seminar in their second or third semesters.their second or third semesters.

► Literature Seminar Approval Form Literature Seminar Approval Form Due May 1Due May 1stst for a fall semester seminar for a fall semester seminar Due December 1Due December 1stst for a fall semester seminar for a fall semester seminar Must be approved by graduate committee before seminar date is Must be approved by graduate committee before seminar date is

assignedassigned((www.csus.edu/chem/degree-programs/Grad%20Forms.html))

Introduction Introduction - continued- continued

Introduction Introduction - continued- continued

► Sources of Help:Sources of Help: Your Research AdvisorYour Research Advisor Seminar CoordinatorSeminar Coordinator Fellow Graduate StudentsFellow Graduate Students The Graduate CoordinatorThe Graduate Coordinator Professors That Work in Seminar FieldProfessors That Work in Seminar Field

► Departmental Chem 294 websiteDepartmental Chem 294 website www.csus.edu/chem/chem294.html

► Tips and information on:Tips and information on: Preparing a literature seminar abstract.Preparing a literature seminar abstract. Preparing a literature seminar presentation.Preparing a literature seminar presentation.

► How your seminar will be evaluatedHow your seminar will be evaluated Time – approx. 50 minutes Time – approx. 50 minutes

► 40 minutes minimum, 55 minutes maximum40 minutes minimum, 55 minutes maximum► Seminars outside of the allowed time range will not be Seminars outside of the allowed time range will not be

considered passing.considered passing. Faculty EvaluationsFaculty Evaluations

► Seminar evaluation formSeminar evaluation form► Must be rated “pass” by all Must be rated “pass” by all or all but 1 or all but 1 faculty in attendance; faculty in attendance;

remediation in other cases. (See Chem 294 syllabus for remediation in other cases. (See Chem 294 syllabus for complete details.)complete details.)

Introduction Introduction - continued- continued

Introduction - TimelineIntroduction - TimelineTimeTime Tasks to CompleteTasks to CompleteSemester Before Semester Before SeminarSeminar

Choose general topic area, preliminary Choose general topic area, preliminary literature search, produce title and abstract; literature search, produce title and abstract; Submit “Literature Seminar Approval Form”Submit “Literature Seminar Approval Form”

10 Weeks Before10 Weeks Before Complete literature search, read main articles, Complete literature search, read main articles, obtain background literatureobtain background literature

6-8 Weeks Before6-8 Weeks Before Complete all reading, organize material, Complete all reading, organize material, choose title for talkchoose title for talk

4-6 Weeks Before4-6 Weeks Before Complete detailed talk outline, prepare Complete detailed talk outline, prepare graphical information and draft slides for talkgraphical information and draft slides for talk

Introduction - TimelineIntroduction - TimelineTimeTime Tasks to CompleteTasks to Complete1 Month Before1 Month Before Submit detailed talk outline to Seminar Submit detailed talk outline to Seminar

CoordinatorCoordinator2-4 Weeks Before2-4 Weeks Before Practice talks, revision of slidesPractice talks, revision of slides1 Week Before1 Week Before Continuing practice talks; Continuing practice talks; Submit abstract** Submit abstract**

(with references) and PowerPoint slides to (with references) and PowerPoint slides to Seminar CoordinatorSeminar Coordinator

Monday of seminar Monday of seminar weekweek

Research advisor must e-mail approval of your Research advisor must e-mail approval of your seminar to Seminar Coordinator seminar to Seminar Coordinator

** In order to fit on the flier announcing the seminar, this abstract should be a shorter ** In order to fit on the flier announcing the seminar, this abstract should be a shorter version of that submitted with the seminar approval form. version of that submitted with the seminar approval form.

Topic SelectionTopic Selection► The topic must be in a different area The topic must be in a different area (but (but

not necessarily different discipline – e.g. not necessarily different discipline – e.g. organic chemistry) organic chemistry) than the thesis topicthan the thesis topic Example: a student whose thesis research is on Example: a student whose thesis research is on

using an HPLC method to analyze atmospheric using an HPLC method to analyze atmospheric aerosols should not cover HPLC methodology or aerosols should not cover HPLC methodology or atmospheric aerosolsatmospheric aerosols

The less related the topic is to your thesis The less related the topic is to your thesis research, the more you can expect to learnresearch, the more you can expect to learn

Topic Selection – Topic Selection – ContinuedContinued

► Topic should be in a chemistry, biochemistry, or applied Topic should be in a chemistry, biochemistry, or applied chemistry area.chemistry area.

► The topic should be in a significant area and of recent The topic should be in a significant area and of recent concern (primary research less than 4 years old).concern (primary research less than 4 years old).

► A good source of new and significant research is A good source of new and significant research is Chemical and Engineering NewsChemical and Engineering News (especially Science and (especially Science and Technology Concentrates).Technology Concentrates).

► Other sources are review articles, Other sources are review articles, NatureNature, , JACSJACS, , ScienceScience, , Scientific AmericanScientific American, etc., etc.

Topic Selection – Topic Selection – ContinuedContinued

► The topic material should be of proper breadth and The topic material should be of proper breadth and depthdepth

► Topic area should have at least 10 publications in Topic area should have at least 10 publications in scientific journalsscientific journals

► Examples:Examples: Microchip capillary electrophoresis is too broad Microchip capillary electrophoresis is too broad Application of microchip capillary electrophoresis to the Application of microchip capillary electrophoresis to the

analysis of banana slug trail chemicals is too narrowanalysis of banana slug trail chemicals is too narrow Application of microchip capillary electrophoresis to the Application of microchip capillary electrophoresis to the

analysis of various types of mucous may be betteranalysis of various types of mucous may be better

How to Get Information on the How to Get Information on the TopicTopic

► Learn to use Scifinder/Chem Abstracts.Learn to use Scifinder/Chem Abstracts.► Pick up the keywords to enter into a search.Pick up the keywords to enter into a search.► Read books and review articles to enhance your Read books and review articles to enhance your

understanding of the topic area.understanding of the topic area.► Check references of papers.Check references of papers.

► You will need at least 10 peer-reviewed literature You will need at least 10 peer-reviewed literature references; at least 6 of these must be primary literature references; at least 6 of these must be primary literature articles (as opposed to review articles).articles (as opposed to review articles). Several articles should be from within the past 4 years.Several articles should be from within the past 4 years.

► On-line encyclopedias such as Wikipedia should never be On-line encyclopedias such as Wikipedia should never be used as referencesused as references

Organization of MaterialOrganization of Material► A traditional scientific presentation will be A traditional scientific presentation will be

organized as follows:organized as follows: OverviewOverview Introduction (background and objectives)Introduction (background and objectives) Methods (description of experiments)Methods (description of experiments) Results and Discussion (what did the experiments show Results and Discussion (what did the experiments show

and what are the implications)and what are the implications) Conclusions and Future directionsConclusions and Future directions AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Organization of MaterialOrganization of Material - - continuedcontinued

► In preparing materials, you need to:In preparing materials, you need to: Understand the main concepts (both in the Understand the main concepts (both in the

papers and in background material)papers and in background material) Be able to explain the concepts to the Be able to explain the concepts to the

audienceaudience

►Select some specific examples and Select some specific examples and graphics to use in making slidesgraphics to use in making slides

Organization of MaterialOrganization of Material - - continuedcontinued

► In preparing your seminar, consider:In preparing your seminar, consider: Making clear the research objectives and significanceMaking clear the research objectives and significance Connecting the choice of research methods to the research Connecting the choice of research methods to the research

objectivesobjectives Clearly explaining any research dataClearly explaining any research data Presenting and evaluating the conclusions from the researchPresenting and evaluating the conclusions from the research

A synthesis of information from your research and A synthesis of information from your research and background articles is expected to present a cohesive background articles is expected to present a cohesive description of your research topicdescription of your research topic

Tips on Seminar Preparation Tips on Seminar Preparation Textual vs. GraphicalTextual vs. Graphical

► Studies of Studies of interpersonal interpersonal communications show communications show that:that: 55% comes from facial 55% comes from facial

expressions and body expressions and body languagelanguage

38% comes from vocal 38% comes from vocal quality or tone of voicequality or tone of voice

7% comes from 7% comes from content, the actual content, the actual meaning of the wordsmeaning of the words

Sources of Concept Transfer

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

facialexpression/body

language

vocal quality contentC

ateg

ory

Per

cent

age

From “Scientifically Speaking”, The Oceanography Society

Tips on Seminar Preparation Tips on Seminar Preparation Preparation of SlidesPreparation of Slides

►Aim for one to four concepts per slideAim for one to four concepts per slide►No more than 2 figures per slideNo more than 2 figures per slide►Assume you will spend about one to Assume you will spend about one to

two minutes per slidetwo minutes per slide► I suggest preparing a few “extra” I suggest preparing a few “extra”

slides that can be removedslides that can be removed

Tips on Seminar Preparation Tips on Seminar Preparation DOs and DO NOTs - 1DOs and DO NOTs - 1

► Make sure the font is large enough to be read from back of roomMake sure the font is large enough to be read from back of room

►Proofred slides –mistakees ar embarrassingProofred slides –mistakees ar embarrassing►BE BE ConsistentConsistent aboutabout fontsfonts andand capitalizationcapitalization

►Test animation sequence; don’t abuse Test animation sequence; don’t abuse animation featuresanimation features

► remove long superfluous sentences or words that remove long superfluous sentences or words that detract from the slide, especially ones that ramble detract from the slide, especially ones that ramble on and on and on because anyone who reads on and on and on because anyone who reads them won’t be paying attention to what you saythem won’t be paying attention to what you say

Don’t have slides cluttered with text boxes in the wrong places

Keep it simple, edit for brevity

Tips on Seminar Preparation Tips on Seminar Preparation DOs and DO NOTs - 2DOs and DO NOTs - 2

► Check figure qualityCheck figure quality► Avoid data tablesAvoid data tables► Highlight important Highlight important

parts of complicated parts of complicated figuresfigures

► Have someone else Have someone else review your slidesreview your slides

► Reference borrowed Reference borrowed materialmaterial

What an exciting figure and data table on aerosol composition!!

Improved Figure

Oops, from Schauer and Cass, ES&T, Oops, from Schauer and Cass, ES&T, 20002000

Practice Makes PerfectPractice Makes Perfect► Figure out what you want to say for each slideFigure out what you want to say for each slide

► Figure out how to use the technology availableFigure out how to use the technology available

► Have someone point out any annoying nervous Have someone point out any annoying nervous habits you havehabits you have

► Practice with actual equipment and keep track Practice with actual equipment and keep track of timeof time

Seminar DaySeminar Day►Dress appropriatelyDress appropriately►Make sure the technology is available Make sure the technology is available

and ready with plenty of time to spareand ready with plenty of time to spare►Look at audience, not at slidesLook at audience, not at slides►Be prepared to answer questionsBe prepared to answer questions

SummarySummary►View the seminar as a learning opportunity View the seminar as a learning opportunity

(both on the topic and on giving seminars)(both on the topic and on giving seminars)

►Make yourself comfortable with your Make yourself comfortable with your subject and with your presentationsubject and with your presentation

►Give yourself enough time to make Give yourself enough time to make improvementsimprovements

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements► I want to thank past audiences who I want to thank past audiences who

had to put up with some of my had to put up with some of my “learning experiences”“learning experiences”