Great research deserves to be communicated well. For students, the ability to explain their research clearly and confidently is essential, particularly in academic settings such as competitions, conferences, candidature defence, and viva voce examinations. Hence, with the aim to support the campus community in strengthening their research communication skills, a workshop was organised by the Centre for Population Health on 12th March 2026 at the RTC-WPR (Studio Room), Department of Social and Preventive Medicine. The workshop, attended by 26 students and academicians, provided practical strategies to help participants translate their research into engaging and well-structured presentations.
Participants were introduced to six components to consider in preparation for research presentations embedded into the workshop sections. These included “Cracking the Clock” on managing presentation time, “Crafting your Content” focusing on the narrative, “Compiling your Case” elaborating on effective slides, “Composing your Conversation” on delivery intonation, “Conveying your Confidence” on stage appearance, and “Confronting your Challenge” on navigating question-and-answer sessions.
Through examples, practical tips, and demonstrations, the workshop highlighted how thoughtful preparation, tireless rehearsals, and powerful delivery can strengthen research presentations.
The workshop was conducted by Dr Catherine Thamarai, a Medical Lecturer and Public Health Medicine Specialist from the Department of Social & Preventive Medicine, who has received several recognitions for her research presentation and public speaking. This includes being awarded as the Best Oral Presenter at the 2nd World Conference on Children and Youth (2020) and the 9th UNIMAS Public Health Seminar (2023). She was also the First Runner-Up in the Universiti Malaya Three Minute Thesis (UM3MT) Competition (2021) and First Prize Winner of the Junior Pitch-It Challenge at the UM Research Carnival (2018), apart from being one of the finalists of “INTAN Stand and Speak: Talk your Way to the Top” (2021).
Feedback from participants indicated that the workshop was very well received. Many respondents highlighted that the practical tips and recommendations were valuable takeaways. Attendees also responded positively to the engaging presentation style, clear explanations, and use of examples and videos to illustrate key points. Besides supporting students to prepare for academic presentations, the workshop is hoped to encourage more students to actively participate in platforms such as the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition and academic conferences.
Ultimately, the workshop is envisioned to empower students in speaking about their research with clarity, confidence, and impact—skills that are essential for academic success and professional growth. It is indeed the speaker’s aspiration to see her students representing the university in the international arena one day.
Special acknowledgement to Associate Professor Dr Nik Daliana Nik Farid and Dr Kwong Soke Chee of CePH for their generous assistance and invaluable support for this workshop.
This write-up was prepared by Dr Catherine Thamarai Arumugam from the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya.
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