MAT 9000

Graduate Seminar

Guidelines for First Seminar Talks

1. This talk (and the written report for it) should be directed at a general audience. You should try to attract the interest of a listener or reader who is curious, but has not had the mathematical training that you have. Don't talk down to such an audience; just don't get heated on technical details. Communicating about mathematics to non-mathematicians is a valuable skill; how many times have you described someone as “very smart, but can't communicate on our level”?

2. Because this is a non-technical talk, many detail items can be expressed with pictures and diagrams. Be sure to explain how the picture illustrates the technical point, and include an accurate explanation in your report.

3. Also because this is a non-technical talk, you can pack in a lot of information into forty minutes. You are not teaching the audience how to be a practitioner of whatever science it is you are describing; you are just showing what can be done in this subject. Salient examples are important!

4. Don't forget your announcement should be ready two days before you speak, and set aside time to rehearse your talk.