WPI-SKCM² Students and Postdocs Sharpen Their English Presentation Skills in Research Presentation Practice

• WPI-SKCM² held a research presentation practice session to enhance early-career researchers’ English communication skills
• The initiative supports two core WPI missions: creating a global research environment and cultivating values for the future
• 11 participants from 6 countries presented their work in English, showcasing the institute’s international and interdisciplinary focus
• The session simulated academic poster presentations, helping researchers prepare for conferences and professional interactions
• Activities like this are part of SKCM²’s broader efforts to promote professional development through regular training and feedback opportunities

As part of its ongoing commitment to the core missions of the WPI program, the International Institute for Sustainability with Knotted Chiral Meta Matter (WPI-SKCM²) recently hosted a research presentation practice session at the VBL Building of Hiroshima University. This initiative reflects the institute’s sustained efforts to fulfill two key WPI objectives:

1. Creating a globalized research environment that fosters international collaboration and academic excellence
2. Cultivating values for the future, such as early-career researcher training and interdisciplinary communication skills

While the event itself was one example, it is part of a broader suite of ongoing activities—including annual practice sessions, internal poster presentations, and interdisciplinary symposia—aimed at strengthening communication and collaboration across scientific fields.

This practice session brought together 11 PhD students and postdoctoral researchers from six countries, including China, India, Iran, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. Many participants are bilingual or multilingual, communicating in English, Japanese, and their native languages, further reinforcing the institute’s international character.

Given that undergraduate and many graduate programs in Japan are primarily conducted in Japanese, opportunities like this session play an important role in helping both domestic and international researchers strengthen their English academic communication skills and connect with global audiences.

Participants represented a wide range of research fields, from topology in condensed matter systems and quantum chromodynamics to data-driven modeling of complex physical phenomena. The event’s interdisciplinary nature not only showcased the depth and breadth of SKCM²’s research community but also encouraged cross-field dialogue and collaboration.

The session provided a supportive and interactive environment where early-career researchers could refine their ability to present their research in English. It began with a one-minute flash talk, challenging participants to deliver concise, engaging summaries of their work, followed by more detailed presentations and Q&A sessions. This structure was intentionally designed to simulate poster session interactions, which are a crucial component of academic training—enabling researchers to share their work, receive feedback, and build professional networks at conferences.

Among the presenters was Takuma Iwata, a PhD student at WPI-SKCM², who shared insights into his experience. Inspired by the growing importance of antiferromagnetic materials in spintronics, Iwata’s presentation focused on investigating their electronic and magnetic properties using spin- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (SARPES) and second-harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy.

“The flash talk format was definitely a challenge at first—it made me realize how difficult it can be to explain my research clearly in such a short time. But at the same time, it helped me think about what’s really essential in my work and how to communicate that to people outside my field. I think it was a really good experience to improve how I talk about my research in a simple and engaging way.” – Takuma Iwata, PhD Student, WPI-SKCM²

Throughout the session, the atmosphere remained interactive and constructive, with senior researchers and principal investigators (PIs) offering feedback both in person and online. These training sessions serve as an important bridge between research development and professional growth, reinforcing WPI-SKCM²’s mission to nurture a globally connected, forward-looking academic culture.

Another key takeaway from the session for all presenters was the importance of research accessibility—both for fellow scientists in different fields and for broader audiences.

“One helpful comment I received was to think more about how my research could be understood by people from different backgrounds. I tend to explain things in a way that makes sense mainly to people in my field, but the feedback made me realize the importance of making my talk more accessible. It encouraged me to step back and consider how to present my research in a clearer, more relatable way for a broader audience.” – Takuma Iwata, PhD Student, WPI-SKCM²

By investing in such capacity-building activities, WPI-SKCM² continues to lead efforts in building a sustainable, international, and interdisciplinary research environment in line with the WPI vision.