TL;DR: CONNECTING MINDS is a student-led talk series for junior researchers in brain and cognitive sciences at MIT and other institutions to present their research, provide feedback on others’ work, and foster collaboration in a student-only space.
We are now inviting students and junior researchers to present their work and ideas (preliminary data are most welcome!). We also encourage students to nominate their peers from underrepresented groups.
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What is 'CONNECTING MINDS'?
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The CONNECTING MINDS Talk Series is a monthly event where junior researchers from within and outside MIT are invited to present their work in an informal space hosted by graduate students in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences. A key feature is that faculty will not be in attendance: only graduate students, postdocs, and lab staff will be invited to speak or attend. Speakers will present their talks over lunch hour, aiming for a 50/50 split between time for presentation and discussion.
By creating a space for students to present their research without faculty in the room, we hope that the lower-stakes environment fosters innovative discussions and sharing of the scientific process, including all the messier parts that are often invisible from professional settings. We hope that participants will be more comfortable asking questions to learn about different research methods, approaches, and ideas.
Who should present? What is expected of students' presentations?
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~~ WE WELCOME PRELIMINARY DATA! OR SIMPLY IDEAS! ~~
To foster open exchange of ideas and lower the barrier to participation, we encourage speakers to present preliminary data, identify open challenges in their fields, and discuss future lines of work.
Presentation lengths are flexible - speakers can choose to present for a half or full hour, aiming for a 50/50 split between presentation and discussion.
~~ DIVERSITY IS KEY! ~~
Connecting Minds aims to increase opportunities for all students to share their work and make professional connections. In particular we hope to increase the participation of students from underrepresented groups, including but not limited to racial and gender minorities in the field.
~~ THE MORE THE MERRIER! ~~
Brain and Cognitive Sciences is an inherently multidisciplinary field. In our department alone we have researchers trained in psychology, neuroscience, computer science, biology, engineering, and philosophy. We will continue to elevate this diversity of perspectives at our talk series by inviting speakers and participants from different fields. By creating an informal atmosphere, we hope to foster collaboration and increase inter-disciplinary crosstalk, while exchanging different ways of doing science.
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CONNECTING MINDS IS NOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS!
Use this form to sign up as a presenter or to nominate your peers.
Should you have any questions, feel free to email Karen Pang (
pangk@mit.edu).
[We thank the MIT OGE for supporting this program through the Graduate Student Experience Grants.]
