Virtual Events for SSA Members

SSA hosts webinars, workshops and mentoring sessions for our community. These upcoming virtual events are offered complimentary for SSA members.

If you are not currently a member of SSA, please join here or renew your membership to participate in these events.

Questions? Contact membership@seismosoc.org.


UPCOMING SESSIONS (see below for details):

  • How to Title and Open a Great Presentation (2 and 4 April) – Register Here
  • Career and Academic Advice for Members (15 May) – Register Here

➤ How to Title and Open a Great Presentation – Register Here

PART A: Tuesday, 2 April from 9-9:45 AM Pacific

PART B: Thursday, 4 April from 9-10:30 AM Pacific

Course Instructor: Ross S. Stein (Instructor of “Scientific Presentation and Public Speaking” at Stanford University, Cofounder and CEO of Temblor, Inc.)

The ability to present your research in a compelling, concise, and engaging manner will enhance your professional career. I will work to convince you that the best way to capture an audience and leave a lasting impression is to tell a story, do a demo, or pick a fight.

The goal of a talk is not to show the audience how much work you did or how much you know. We don’t care about that. Instead, we want to learn something new and important, something that changes our perspective and influences our research. We want to be inspired, shocked, and moved—not just informed.

So, in the opening minutes of a talk, you must ‘plant your flag’ and make your case. You are forecasting the arc of your story, rather than introducing your topic. In these crucial opening minutes, you’ve either hooked them or lost them. We all have cell phones; to capture attention, you must engage the audience.

The short course is taught in two parts.

  • PART A: In the first 45-min session, I will demo four different talk openers: A story, a physical demo, a fight, and an attitude reset. Your goal is to assess for yourself which could work for you and for your research. You will also receive a guide on strategies for engaging an audience.
  • PART B: In the second 90-min session, participants may volunteer to present a 2-min talk opener, without slides. Then, over the next 5 min, the presenter will receive feedback on what worked and what could be enhanced. After taking in the feedback, they will present again to demonstrate improvement. You will discover that you have it in you to make your presentation much better.

➤ Career and Academic Advice for Members – Register Here

Wednesday, 15 May from 10-11 AM Pacific

Tap in to the SSA community and connect with mentors during this one-hour virtual session intended to help YOU navigate your academic and career path in seismology! This is an open opportunity to ask questions and receive advice from fellow members during both small and large group discussions. All members are welcome, especially those who are new to SSA!

Mentors:

  • Richard Alfaro-Diaz, Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • Julian Lozos, California State University – Northridge
  • Marino Protti, Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica
  • Emily Wolin, Earthscope