Skip to main content
The University of New Mexico

CWE Mini-Conference

2025 CWE Mini-Conference

CWE Mini-Conference Date & Time

 

Friday, October 17, 12:00 – 3:00 PM

Located in STAMM Common Room, Centennial Engineering Center, Room 1044, UNM Main Campus

Pitch Competition and Awards Ceremony in the Larrañaga Auditorium (across the hall)

Mini-conference participation is not limited only to CWE students. Any UNM undergraduate or graduate student can participate as long as their research (or proposed research) focuses on water and the environment and broadly supports the CWE’s mission. All participants must submit an abstract for each session in which they will participate. Experience with pitches, posters, or conferences is not required, we encourage participation at all levels!

Agenda

  • 12:00 - 1:15 Poster Session
  • 1:15 - 2:15 Perfect Pitch Session
  • 2:30 - 3:00 Awards

Perfect Pitch Session

Instead of traditional talk, we are asking students to answer the following three questions in 90 seconds: (1) what real-life problem their research addressed - or is to be addressed, (2) how they solved it - or will solve it - in a unique way, and (3) what impact it would have for society and in achieving the CWE’s mission—they learn a succinct way of talking about their research in the context of societal needs and the broader impact of their success. This mini-conference perfect pitch session is modeled after the National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Research Center (ERC) Perfect Pitch Competition. Each 90-second pitch should be accompanied by one digital slide.

Perfect Pitch Slide criteria:

Purpose of slide

  • Serve as a visual reference to help the audience remember your pitch
  • The visual complement to your pitch

Slide Format

  • Students are encouraged to be creative
  • Although the pitch must address the problem/opportunity, solution, and impact, slide content is not prescriptive
  • Videos, animations, and props are prohibited

Videos

NSF-ERC Perfect Pitch Competition 2019 Winner

2022 NSF ERC Perfect Pitch Competition (whole competition)

Abstract Submission

Abstract criteria:

  • Abstract submissions should be no more than 200 words
  • Research objective(s)
  • Experimental design (completed or proposed)
  • Most significant result(s) or anticipated result(s)
  • Impact of the research project

Abstract Link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/B5mP1rUtt9?origin=lprLink

DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACT (200 words) SUBMISSIONS: Monday, September 22nd, MIDNIGHT

Nano-Pitch Session (100 seconds)

Instead of traditional talk, we are asking students to answer the following three questions in 100 seconds: (1) what real-life problem their research addressed - or is to be addressed, (2) how they solved it - or will solve it - in a unique way, and (3) what impact it would have for society and in achieving the CWE’s mission. Each 100-second pitch should be accompanied by one digital slide.

Poster Session

Students will create a research poster to showcase their current, completed, or proposed research. The poster should include: 1) the title of the research; 2) the author and co-authors; and 3) funding sources, if established; 4) introduction/research background; 5) methodology; 6) results and discussion of significant findings; 7) broader impact of results; and 8) future direction of research.

Poster printing details:

CWE will offer poster printing sessions (at no cost) for participants on October 6-10; printing details will be coordinated directly with poster session participants.

Posters must be less than 24"x36". Due to printing constraints, larger posters will not be printable unless students organize their own printing arrangements.

Prizes:

The CWE offers 4 prizes total for the mini-conference session. Each session will award two, $100 gift cards to the UNM Bookstore. In each session, there will be a winner chosen by the judging panel and another winner chosen by the mini-conference participants (a “people’s choice” award).

Happy hour to follow!

All are welcome to join us for a celebratory happy hour after the mini-conference at Flock of Moons (111 Harvard St SE) starting around 4:00 PM.

Mini-conference Prep “Drop-In” Hours

There will be drop-in hours (in the fashion of office hours for courses) where students can show up and utilize that time to get help on writing an abstract, creating/structuring/editing their poster or pitch slide, or practicing their talks or pitches. This time is made for asking questions whether you’ve never been to a conference or you’ve been to many and want more details about these sessions.

Day/Time for drop-in hours: TBD

Centennial Engineering, Conference Room 2041

For more information:

Jaimie Ritchie: ritchjai@unm.edu
Carl Abadam: cabadam@unm.edu