From Calgary to the national stage: A PhD student’s journey to Canada’s top academic speaking competition

Madeline Springle, a second-year PhD student in Industrial-Organizational Psychology in the University of Calgary's Faculty of Arts, is making waves in the world of research communication. Her journey through the 2023-24 Images of Research competition and the 2024 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Storytellers Challenge highlights her remarkable ability to transform complex research into compelling, accessible narratives — and the crucial support she received along the way.

From abstract to image: Springle's research comes to life

Springle’s research, which delves into biases in hiring outcomes in asynchronous video interviews (AVIs), captivated judges and audiences alike, at Images of Research. This competition, organized by UCalgary’s Faculty of Graduate Studies, encourages graduate students to showcase their research through a powerful image and an engaging abstract that makes complex ideas accessible to a broad, non-specialist audience. The challenge of using an image to communicate this message was an opportunity for Springle, MSc'23, to hone her research communication skills.

What makes Springle's entry particularly compelling is that she used AI to create her image — an innovative approach that reflects her research's focus on how socioeconomic status backgrounds in AVIs can influence hiring decisions. “The power of an image is incredible,” she says. “It allows you to convey a complex idea in an immediate, relatable way. It’s a challenge to balance the depth of your research with the simplicity needed to make it accessible to everyone, but that’s exactly what competitions like this help you to do.”

By using ChatGPT to craft the image, she visually communicated how the background in a video interview can sway perceptions, a timely issue as AI-driven tools become more prominent in both research and hiring practices.

Blending research depth with broader societal impact

Springle’s success in the Images of Research competition led her to the next big opportunity: the 2024 SSHRC Storytellers Challenge. This national competition encouraged participants to condense their research into a three-minute story, aimed at making complex academic work accessible and relatable to a general audience.

Condensing complex research into accessible formats was no easy task. She faced the significant challenge of distilling years of research into just a few minutes while deciding which information was most relevant for each unique audience. “For example, at industrial-organizational psychology conferences, the audience likely has some background knowledge on topics like asynchronous video interviews, so they’re more interested in the study design and statistical findings," Springle says. "But, in competitions like SSHRC Storytellers, where the audience’s backgrounds vary widely, I had to focus on presenting the ‘big picture’ — highlighting how the research is relevant to everyday life and the broader societal impact.” 

Supported by UCalgary’s Knowledge to Impact team in the Research Services Office, the My GradSkills team in the Faculty of Graduate Studies, and Libraries and Cultural Resources, Springle was able to refine her storytelling, transforming her research into a narrative that resonated with a wider audience. From multiple practice sessions to expert advice on her script, she credits much of her success to this dedicated support system.

Her efforts paid off when she was named one of the top five finalists in the Storytellers Challenge, an accomplishment that not only recognized her talent, but also emphasized the growth of her research communication skills. This achievement also led to her selection to compete at the 2024 Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS) National Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Showcase in November.

Breaking down interview barriers with video guidance

This summer, Springle launched her YouTube channel, Master Your Interview with Madeline, aimed at helping job applicants navigate the complexities of asynchronous video interviews. Inspired by the frustration she encountered in online forums where applicants discussed difficulties with these interviews, she created five-minute videos offering tips and insights to help candidates feel more prepared and confident.

"This has been a fun and innovative way to share my research with a non-specialist audience," she says. "It’s also pushed me to improve my communication skills by speaking to a new and unseen audience. Now, whenever I’m reading research, I’m constantly thinking about how I can turn it into a video that could genuinely help job candidates."

Springle's ability to bridge the gap between academic research and practical, everyday applications highlights the growth of her skills as both a researcher and a communicator, reinforcing the impact of her work beyond the academic community.

Celebrating Springle's research communication: the journey continues

Currently, Springle is preparing for the CAGS 3MT Showcase on Nov. 1 in Toronto. The competition challenges participants to present their research in an accessible and compelling way within three minutes, using only one static slide. This event celebrates innovative graduate student research while promoting communication, public speaking and storytelling skills.

She plans to leverage the skills and support she has gained through previous competitions to excel in the Showcase. “Preparing for a large-scale competition like this requires intense mental focus," she says. "I joke that I sometimes feel like I’m an Olympian for public speaking, especially with my vocal ‘warm-ups’!” Her goal is to create a connection with the audience and deliver a performance that is both entertaining and informative.

The Showcase will be a celebratory event without formal adjudication. Instead, the audience will select their favourite presentations through a People’s Choice voting round. The top three finalists will receive cash prizes, and the top two winners will advance to the 2024 North American Showcase in St. Louis, Mo.

Springle’s journey from the Images of Research competition to the SSHRC Storytellers Challenge and now to the National 3MT Showcase exemplifies her dedication to research communication. Her story is a testament to the power of storytelling in making research accessible and impactful, and a shining example of research excellence at UCalgary. 

“At the Faculty of Graduate Studies and at the University of Calgary, we take a student-centred approach to create a meaningful graduate student experience,” says Dr. Tara Beattie, PhD, dean and vice-provost (Graduate Studies). “Working closely with Madeline over the course of the past year through different competitions to further develop her research communications skills demonstrates the impact that this skillset has on both the research and general community.

“I’m proud of Madeline’s hard work and dedication to convey her incredible research to a broad audience and look forward to supporting her during the CAGS National Three Minute Thesis Showcase.”

The 2024 National 3MT Showcase will begin on Nov. 1 at 12 p.m. MT. You watch and vote for Madeline Springle by tuning into the live stream.