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The timer starts and the clock is ticking down. On stage, the finalists of the are challenged to condense years of specialized work into a three-minute presentation. 

The Slam is more than just a competition — it is an exercise in research translation, where postdoctoral scholars take their complex discoveries outside of academia and into language everyone can understand. 

This year, the University of Calgary saw an impressive 71 submissions, narrowed down to 12 finalists and ultimately five winners, says , BA'92, MEd'07, PhD'14, associate vice-president (research). 

“Our postdocs are such an important part of our research ecosystem here at UCalgary. We are very proud,” Milaney says.

The Top 3 presentations 

Three postdoctoral scholars took home the Top 3 honours at the Slam, each highlighting the value of communicating research beyond academic audiences. 

, PhD, says the experience helped him translate his work for broader audiences while connecting with other researchers across campus. His presentation, "The Language of Scars: Rewriting our Body’s Healing Instruction," explored how to initiate the body’s healing process.  

“It was really enriching to speak about my research in a language where everyone can understand what we are doing in our laboratory,” he says. 

Participating in the Slam pushed PhD, outside her comfort zone. Her presentation, "Nanobubbles: Speed of Sound Metrology for Low-Energy Nanobubble Water Treatment," focused on improving water treatment technologies.  

“It doesn’t matter if you stay in academia or go into industry, being able to explain your research to people who are not experts will help you a lot,” she says. 

Building connections with fellow postdocs stood out for  PhD. His presentation, "Tiny natural defenders: Uncovering the oil-degrading potential of the Canadian Arctic microbiome," highlighted the role of Arctic microbes in environmental cleanup. 

“I learned a lot and started new collaborations and friendships through this opportunity,” he says. 

Aleman encourages future participants to take part in the competition. 

“Just try it,” he says. “You’ll have a lot of fun, meet new people and become part of a community.” 

Inaugural Transdisciplinary Award 

The Slam also highlighted the growing role of transdisciplinary scholarship — research that brings together multiple disciplines and works with the community to create real-world impact. 

This year’s event introduced its very first Transdisciplinary Award. 

“It was great to see so many postdocs presenting impactful work,” says , MSc'99, PhD, scientific director of the . “Through transdisciplinary scholarship, postdocs shared how they were working across disciplines and also how they are working with community partners to really move their research to impact.” 

, winner of the Most Transdisciplinary Award for her presentation, "From ‘Taboo’ to ‘Talked ��ɫֱ��’: A Suicide Stigma Reduction Program for Postsecondary Students," says the award is meaningful. 

“It’s very validating, but it’s not just my research,” says Lindsay, BSc'16, BA'16, MSc'20, PhD'25. “I have an advisory group, research assistants, and lived experts who help shape the program. It’s really our work.” 

People’s Choice Award 

In addition to the judged awards, audience members also voted for the People’s Choice Award. 

Winner , PhD, explored the rise and dynamics of assisted reproductive technologies in her presentation, "Reimagining Parenthood: Assisted Reproduction and New Family Forms." She says the Slam reinforced the importance of making research accessible.  

“What we’re doing as researchers shouldn’t stay in the academic sector,” Bettini says. “We need to make sure what we create is accessible for everybody, especially the communities we work with to make positive changes.”