The winner of Science Slam, Chloe Kiernicki, ventured outside her comfort zone
In her presentation, Kiernicki showcased research she conducted as part of her bachelor's degree at the Georgia Institute of Technology, focusing on the reuse of wind turbine blades. Two hundred attendees witnessed the tenth Science Slam.
– When I signed up, I thought that Science Slam was a great opportunity to meet new people, network, and get acquainted with research in various fields also myself. My goals were met, and I want to thank the organizers for an excellent event, Kiernicki says.
Visuality and networks as enablers of victory
Chloe Kiernicki believes that visuality played a significant role in her winning the competition. As an architecture student, Kiernicki often perceives things through images, and she also used illustrations in her presentation. Additionally, a wide network and supportive friends were undoubtedly helpful in her victory.
New skills from outside the comfort zone
Research presentations are often tailored to people in the same field, assuming the audience already has some background knowledge of the subject. This time, the presentation had to be designed so that even those not interested in the same field could understand and enjoy it.
– I thought that the competition would be good practice for me, and I would have to step outside my comfort zone. The most important realization was that it's okay to experience discomfort at times. I haven't done anything like this before, and I'm not a comedian, smirks Kiernicki.
