Welcome to the journal club
Staying abreast of modern developments in Physics is challenging when one considers the magnitude of research and publications that arrive monthly.
As you continue in your studies, whether as an graduate student nearing the “ABD” status or an undergraduate student just starting out with a research group, it is critical that you have access to new research developments.
Additionally, having more opportunities to practice giving talks can help you be more successful when you start presenting your research at conferences and major physics meetings. With more experience speaking in front of peers, you learn to develop your delivery style, communicate more effectively about your work, and can help lower public-speaking anxieties some of us experience!
The Journal Club is designed to help you have access to these beneficial experiences. There are various ways to conduct a Journal Club; here at the USD Physics Department, we are using the Journal Club in the ‘conference’ format.
How it works:
Each semester, several students will choose a paper, study it, and give a presentation of the paper in front of an audience of peers. The Journal Club invites presenters from both Graduate students and Undergraduate students!
Students are advised to treat the presentations as though they are presenting at a conference, with specified time allotments for presentation and questions each.
In this format, we seek participants to give a presentation on a recent journal article or paper – we recommend this be a paper that is central or influential of your own research work. It is suggested that you consult with your research professor as you choose a paper to present on.
Once you have decided on a paper and contacted the Journal Club Coordinator to schedule your presentation, you should begin preparing your presentation immediately. This will help you make adjustments more skillfully as your presentation date gets closer.
TIP: Start with most / all figures, tables, and formulas presenting within the article. You can build the rest of the powerpoint around these key talking points!
Once you have laid the foundation of your presentation, re-read your article a few times. Journal articles are dense with information; very few sentences are there to spare; you want to become very familiar with the article and its ideas.
During the week leading up to your Journal Club presentation, consult with your major professor for possible improvements. Once you are satisfied with the presentation, send a copy to the Journal Club Coordinator. The Coordinator can send out copies to your audience, along with the journal article, so that those with particular interest can prepare to attend your presentation.
When Journal Club meets, Present Your Article! Remember to have a good time; the goal here is to get more practice presenting in front of peers! We are all rooting for you!
Schedule of Fall 2022 Journal Club Presentations:
Meetings will begin at 3pm on Thursdays, refreshments will be provided
| Date | Speaker | Topic | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09/29/2022 | TBA | TBA | Akeley 314 |
| 10/27/2022 | TBA | TBA | Akeley 314 |
| 12/01/22 | TBA | TBA | Akeley 314 |
| TBA | TBA | TBA | Akeley 314 |