By ​Kadambari Vijay Sai

Have you ever felt yourself dozing off or zoning out in a zoom presentation despite your best intentions? How can you prevent this in others when you’re leading a presentation through Zoom?
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 “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” These words, which likely originate from an old Chinese proverb, stand the test of time as the holy grail for a good Zoom presentation. The social constraints that compel an audience to stay focused during an in-person presentation are absent on Zoom. This leaves viewers at the mercy of their willpower, which is often weaker than their won’t-power – making it incredibly hard to focus. So, it’s up to the presenter to engage and involve the audience. 

By Lauren Koenig

​The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has been a huge disruption for undergraduates hoping to gain research experience while in college. Under ordinary circumstances, many STEM majors often volunteer or work in a research lab to gain course credit, fulfill work study jobs, earn critical experience to prepare for graduate school or medical school, and find out if a job in STEM is right for them. With many schools moving online and some labs moving to remote work, it can be hard to find programs and mentors that continue to offer research experience.
 
Fortunately, the pandemic hasn’t put a stop to science. Many researchers out there are still looking for help. If you’re interested in getting involved in research, there are several options available in whichever format works best for you. 

By Dmitriy Gabriel

By Andi Packheiser

Finals are over. Regardless of you passed, failed or made the most out of your semester- winter break is finally here! Pat yourself on the back for making it through yet another (or your first!) semester and decide how you’re going to spend your winter break. Here are some tips to help you navigate how to spend your winter break:

Check in with Yourself:
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We have so much agency within ourselves that we don’t do ourselves justice by complying with any sort of distraction or pressure that is unnecessary. After a semester, we may feel like we have to complete a million and a half tasks but in reality we may need to find ways to focus on physical and our mental fitness. There is no rule that says you have to be busy 24/7.  

By Amy Massack