The EIT RawMaterials Academy, together with RWTH Aachen University and TU Clausthal, will organise the third edition of the communication bootcamp Talk Nerdy To Me (TNTM) on 12 to 15 October 2020 online.
TNTM is for PhD students and researchers carrying out research in raw materials and its related disciplines. This year, we will open up registration to both EIT RawMaterials partner universities and non-partner universities across Europe.
Participants will learn how to effectively present their research to various target groups and have the chance to network with fellow students from all over the world.
Check out the photos and testimonials below to see what the TNTM experience was like in 2019!
The current situation with COVID-19 makes in person events like last year uncertain. Therefore we will offer a virtual solution. In these times online presentation skills are most valuable and we are happy to help you make the next step in these surroundings. For now, we hope you stay safe and we see each other online at the next edition of TNTM!
TNTM will be a mix of plenary training modules and interactive break-out sessions in smaller, more focused groups. The training will be led by experts providing tips and feedback on body language, vocal cadence and how to capture and maintain the interest of your audience.
During the break-out sessions, there will be a strong emphasis on interaction with your peers in smaller groups. You will learn how to apply the communication tools and tips from the plenary modules to your own research, have the opportunity to practice using them and obtain feedback from facilitators and TNTM participants. One of the results will be updated presentations and pitches of your own research, customised to the different target groups addressed in TNTM.
As stated above, we offer a virtual solution as the COVID-19 situation does not allow us to hold a physical event.

I really liked the programme of the event and the opportunity to improve my presentation skills. I was very interested in presenting my work to many colleagues who do not work in my field of study and to receive constructive feedback. I expected to meet many new people and network-and I would say that TNTM is great for networking! I would like to point out the support and time we received for working on the packaging and presenting our research. All the experts and people who worked on this event were very encouraging and supportive. I also learned some very useful skills that gave me a different perspective for preparing my future presentations. If you are willing to improve your general presentation skills, meet many new people, have fun and outside of the box learning experiences, this is the right event for you. I personally enjoyed the experience and would definitely recommend this event to any student.

I was enthusiastic to learn more about communication skills and interpersonal relations which I consider very useful. I liked the content of the sessions. The trainers explained how to interact with the public, and manage the pressure of being in front of an audience. They also provided us with useful tips about communication and presentation. I also liked the fact that TNTM was not only related to one specific field but different ones with different approaches. This allowed me to meet new people and gain their perspectives of the topics we worked on during the group activities. During the group work phases we learned to coordinate our opinions and to present a product in a short period of time by mutual agreement, a process that was not always easy. We had the chance to meet people from different fields, countries and perspectives. We had a lot of fun during the process and I assure you, you will too!
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at academy@eitrawmaterials.eu.
Hope to see you online!
The Talk Nerdy To Me Organizers,
Lea (RWTH Aachen University), Steffen (EIT RawMaterials), and Sabine (TU Clausthal)