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The 2014 Grad Slam Final round featured 10 finalists looking to earn the title of Champion. Find out who took home the grand prize of $5,000!
During the Grad Slam Final Round, 10 brave graduate students shared their 3-minute research presentations with a large crowd that filled Corwin Pavilion. After the 10 presenters gave their professional and inspiring talks, the judges selected the winners.
And the UCSB 2014 Grad Slam Champion and winner of $5,000 is ...
James G. Allen
Marine Science
"Measuring Cells from Space: Remote Sensing of Phytoplankton Size Distribution"
And the Runners-Up are ...
Deborah Barany
Dynamical Neuroscience
"The Brain in Action"
Damien Kudela
Chemistry
"Smart Drugs to Stop Bleeding"
Of course, everyone was a winner in the Grad Slam Final Round, which is why I have created additional categories for the rest of the presenters, and a few others:
Best Use of Popular Media: Leah Kuritzky
Most Impressive Comparison of Spaghetti to Brain Research: Matt Cieslak
Outstanding Use of the Angry Kid Meme: Aubrie Adams
Most Dramatic ("We Just Don't Have Anything Else That Works!"): Michael Zakrewsky
Most Impressive Use of a Cassowary to Explain Language: Don Daniels
Best Use of Food: Michelle Oyewole
Outstanding Comparison of Language to Biology: Dibella Wdzenczny
Future Career as a DJ: Don Lubach, Associate Dean, First Year and Graduate Student Initiatives, aka DJ Donny Don
Best judges: Hannah-Beth Jackson, California State Senator; Gene Lucas, Former Executive Vice Chancellor and Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering; Michael Witherell, Vice Chancellor for Research and Professor of Physics; Denise Stephens, University Librarian; John Wiemann, Professor Emeritus of Communication; and Sarah Cline, Professor Emerita of History.
Most welcoming host: Graduate Division Dean Carol Genetti
After being amazed by the Grad Slam finalists, the audience members headed outdoors for the Graduate Student Showcase Reception. The reception featured a delicious selection of foods (empanadas, mushroom-stuffed risotto cakes, quesadillas, and more) as well as a live band.
Overall, the Grad Slam and Graduate Student Showcase were a great success and a fun way to show off the incredible research that graduate students are conducting.
