CSU GRAD SLAM 2023

Hosted by San Diego State University

2023 CSU Grad Slam Winners

Watch the 2023 CSU Grad Slam Final Round Three-Minute Presentation below

Logo for the 2023 CSU Grad Slam with an outline of California and a clock as cover image for YouTube video of event recording
Watch the recording of the finalists' presentations at the CSU Grad Slam

The California State University Grad Slam showcases and celebrates a wide array of excellent research and creative activity that takes place at the graduate level across the CSU. Participating CSU campuses nominate two graduate students to compete for a change to win cash prizes and bragging rights. During the competition, participants are allowed 3 minutes and one PowerPoint slide to present their research to a non-expert audience.

San Diego State University will be hosting the third annual CSU Grad Slam on May 5, 2023 from 10:00am to 2:30pm.

To view the event and support CSU graduate students, Click Here for Zoom Link

2023 CSU Grad Slam Preliminary Rooms

Please email [email protected] if you have any questions.

                                                                            CSU Grad Slam 2023 Rules

  • Competitors must be currently enrolled in a graduate program at a CSU campus.
  • Competitors must be nominated by their CSU campus Grad Slam liaison, typically as a result of a campus-wide competition.

Please include a signed release form. Use this link to access the CSU General Photography, Visual image Release

  • Presentations are limited to 3 minutes. The timer will begin immediately when the presenter starts speaking. Competitors who exceed 3 minutes are disqualified.

A single, static PowerPoint slide is permitted using the template.

  • The slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration.
  • No slide transitions, animations, or electronic media (e.g., sound or video files) are permitted.
  • If photos, graphics, graphs, or illustrations are included on the slide not solely created by the presenter, a reference to the original source must be included at the bottom of the slide.
  • No props (e.g., costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.

gradslamslide

Please include a signed release form. Use this link to access the CSU General Photography, Visual image Release

Clarity:  Did the speaker provide adequate background knowledge to make the talk and the importance of the project understandable?

Organization: Did the presentation follow a clear and logical sequence?

Language matches audience:  Was the topic and its significance communicated in a language appropriate to an interested, but non-specialist audience? (For example, did the speaker avoid or explain discipline-specific jargon?)

Significance:  Did the presenter explain why the project mattered, addressing the impact and results of the research?

Delivery:  How was the delivery, including pace, enthusiasm, confidence, body language, and dynamism of vocal delivery?

Visual:  Did the slide enhance the presentation and help to emphasize the primary points of the talk?  Was the slide well designed, clear, legible and concise?

Engagement:  To what extent did the talk speak to your intellectual curiosity?  Did it make you want to learn more about the topic?

The CSU Grad Slam 2023 Judging Rubric.

The following prizes will be awarded at the live event in May:

  • First Prize: $1,200 cash award
  • Second Prize: $800 cash award
  • Third Prize/People's Choice: $500 cash award

Here is the Event Guide. This features different instructions to help you with the best virtual experience for our event!

Please download the below image to use as a Zoom background for the event.  

The link (2023 CSU Grad Slam Zoom Background.jpeg)  will open a new page. Please right-click the image to download it to your computer.  Once you are logged in to a Zoom meeting, you can add the image to your 'Background & Filters' setting. 

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PREVIOUS CSU GRAD SLAMS

Find more information below about the previous CSU Grad Slams, including the first, second, and third place winners plus the people's choice winners.

San José State University hosted the inaugural CSU Grad Slam on May 6, 2021. Watch the winning presentations here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DFLuGR8y8A

CSU Bakersfield hosted the second annual CSU Grad Slam on May 6, 2022. See more information about the winners here: https://www.csub.edu/graduatestudentcenter/csu-grad-slam-2022