Kevin Barry wins VPR fellowship in 3-minute presentation challenge

Kevin Barry, advised by University Distinguished Professor Sonia Kreidenweis and Senior Research Scientist Paul DeMott, was among 31 CSU graduate students to compete in the Vice President for Research Graduate Fellowship Three Minute Challenge on Feb. 10. The competitors, who were chosen as top communicators in the Graduate Student Showcase in November, had to explain their research clearly and concisely, with the use of only one static PowerPoint slide, in three minutes or less. Barry was selected by the panel of judges to receive a VPR fellowship, along with 15 other presenters.

Barry presented on his research regarding the potential of ice-nucleating particles from wildfires in the western U.S.

“It was challenging but important to condense my whole research (background, methods, results) to under three minutes for a general audience,” Barry said. “It allowed me to focus on the significance and think about my research from a broader prospective.”

The presenters represented seven colleges and 18 disciplines, including animal science, atmospheric science, chemistry, communication studies, food science and human nutrition, physics and microbiology. Fellows are eligible for up to $4,000 in scholarship and travel support, as well as opportunities for professional development through workshops, mentorship, and leadership and engagement opportunities over the 2020-21 academic year.

“I thoroughly enjoyed hearing the diverse set of research in the event, although the timer was nerve-racking!” Barry said.

You can watch Barry’s presentation, “Can Wildfires Influence Ice in Clouds,” here.