#  FAQs and Suggestions for Speakers  

 



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##  Chalk Talk FAQs 

 



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###    What is a Chalk Talk?  expand\_more  

During a Chalk Talk, a presenter leads an informal seminar with chalk and a board as the only visual aid. Harvard students, postdocs, staff, and faculty gather to share, discuss, and productively critique the latest and greatest work-in-progress and evolving stories from the many labs around campus.

 

 



###    Who are Chalk Talks for?  expand\_more  

Chalk Talks are free and open to both Harvard affiliates and the broader microbial science community. No advanced registration is required.

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###    How can I give a Chalk Talk?  expand\_more  

We would be thrilled to hear about your work! Please [reach out to MSI](mailto:msi@fas.harvard.edu) if you're interested in presenting your research in a Chalk Talk.

 

 



 

 

 

 

##  Suggestions for Speakers 

If you've never given a chalk talk, you are not alone! Often, the first ever opportunity to give such a talk is during a high-stakes situation like faculty job interviews. However, this engaging seminar format need not be relegated to only faculty hopefuls. Chalk talks are great because, ideally, the stripped-down format (no tech!) forces the presenter to communicate the *what*, *why*, and *how* of their research in a clear, concise, and conversational way.

Key things to remember:

- This is a true **chalk** talk. The media are chalk and words!
- While there are 55 minutes allotted, we suggest that speakers prepare no more than 30 minutes of "agenda." That leaves time for a conversational flow with questions and answers during the talk.
- The topic for your presentation is completely up to you, but we encourage debate, problem-solving, and knowledge-sharing in this forum.
- Please do not think of this as a chance to give "a seminar without slides." Instead, you can consider it more akin to a conversation you are having with many friends over many cups of coffee.

Perhaps the best way to get good at chalk-talks is to see great chalk talks, so make sure to **attend regularly**! For a little more guidance on your first time, you can try adapting the pointers from [**this article**](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6727636/) to a scale that is relevant to your career stage and research scope.