End Products From the Lab
In this module, individuals will gain essential skills for engaging with professional and academic communities. You'll learn the importance of attending conferences to stay informed about the latest developments and trends in the field as well as having opportunities for networking. This module will guide you through the process of how to create impactful poster presentations and how to deliver engaging conference presentations to effectively communicate your ideas.
Participants will also explore the process of publishing their work, including the steps involved and strategies for reaching the right audience. The module emphasizes building meaningful connections and networking, crucial for career growth and collaborative opportunities. Additionally, you’ll meet many of the community partners of the CIL.
Attending conferences
Attending conferences is an excellent way to learn how research is currently targeting the fields in which you are interested. Conferences are also great for meeting faculty from differing colleges you may have an interest in attending, as well as community partners that you hope to work with. Conferences build several skills, such as creating a presentation or poster, public speaking, networking, and presenting yourself professionally. The CIL has attended several conferences: the annual Engagement Scholarship Consortium, Association for International Agriculture and Extension Education, International Society for Quality of Life Studies, and the National Learner-Centered Teaching Conference.
Conference presentations
Conference presentations often present past research or innovative ideas for education and engagement. Each conference identifies an overarching theme for which all presentations must relate—this is usually identifiable by the name of the conference. Conference presentations are typically 15 minutes and include a PowerPoint that the presenter discusses on stage.
The Community Innovation Lab believes strongly in having highly engaging presentations. We encourage presenters to look at the audience, not the PowerPoint, to tell a story, to be excited, and to get the audience involved. Prior to each research conference, The Lab convenes for a poster/presentation night where we practice our presentations and get critiques to ensure presentations and posters are polished.
Poster presentations
Poster presentations are simpler than conference presentations. Poster presentations are presented in a gathering room with dozens of other posters with an audience that travels around and engages with the researcher and their poster. Posters can be used for many different things. Posters may present past or work-in-progress research. They can also present innovative ideas for research, education, or engagement. They may also be use the audience to brainstorm new ideas relating to a new question that is being asked.
Women Civic Engagement Poster, University/Community Engagement
Community events / Community Partners
The Community Innovation Lab has many community partners that it has assisted over the years. Here you can meet them and learn more about them.