Grad student’s debut oral presentation is an award-winner

The first time was the charm for Caileigh Tomas.

Caileigh had signed up to present at the Faculty of Science’s 3^rd annual Graduate Research Symposium.  She decided to give a talk rather than put up a poster. “I’ve done poster presentations before but I’d never talked about my research outside of the classroom or lab.”

It had seemed like a good idea at the time.

“I know that being ‘super lay’ when talking about my research will make me a better communicator with non-scientists. I tend to lose my parents after about a minute when I’m talking about my latest experiment.”

Caileigh’s studying high altitude adaptations in animals and humans, with a focus on the role of the gut microbiome in thermogenesis at high altitudes. It’s important research given that climate change could force mass migrations up to higher and colder altitudes.

But then the reality of giving a talk started to set in. “I somehow had to condense a year-and-a-half worth of research into a three-minute presentation. And I’d be talking to a room full of other grad students and profs. I couldn’t make my talk too ‘lay’ or they wouldn’t take me seriously and they’d think I had no idea what I was talking about.”

Caileigh’s supervisor Graham Scott was all-in on her presentation and encouraged her do practice runs of her talk in the lab. “Dr. Scott was incredibly supportive.”

Going into the day, Caileigh didn’t think she could be anymore nervous. She was wrong.

Caileigh was one of 29 grad students scheduled to give oral presentations. Another 32 students were making poster presentations. More than 200 students and faculty filled the seats in CIBC Hall.

Caileigh was due up in the afternoon. But her name was unexpectedly called during the morning session just before lunch. As she made her way to the lectern, the opening slide for another student’s presentation went up on the screen.

Caileigh said those weren’t her slides. One of the organizers asked if she was sure. Caileigh said she was quite sure.

The moment of awkward silence that followed felt like it lasted an hour. The MC quickly and graciously apologized for the mix-up and Caileigh returned to her seat.

She was ready to stand and deliver in the afternoon. As an added bonus, all of her lab mates showed up. “We always have each other’s backs. We might get a little extreme with our shows of mutual support.”

Caileigh’s talk was a hit with the judges – she was presented with one of three best oral presentation awards.

The recognition was a confidence-booster and she’s now looking forward to delivering more presentations at conferences on campus and outside of McMaster. She’s also persuaded some of her lab mates to start giving talks.

Her biggest presentation with the highest stakes will happen in September when she defends her thesis. She looks forward to drinking from McMaster Chalice at the Phoenix.

Once she’s graduated with her master’s degree in biology and biological sciences, Caileigh plans to apply to veterinary college and then put all of her experience to work in as an animal scientist. And she’ll continue looking for conferences where she can put her science communication skills to work.