The Agronomy and Horticulture Graduate Student Association hosted its annual departmental Elevator Speech Contest Oct. 23 in Keim Hall.
Participants were given three minutes to present their research to a general audience in a clear and engaging way. The event highlighted students’ ability to explain their work in relatable, straightforward language.
Graduate students Rose Alcine Lovely Zamord earned first place, while Akashdeep Kamboj and Ozgur Altundas tied for second. They will represent the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture and participate in the annual interdepartmental Elevator Speech Contest with the Departments of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Animal Science in April.
Hadiya Kounsar, Sofiya Arora, Zain Shahbaz and Inora Mazoio also competed.
Zamord’s speech was titled “Beyond Calories: Reimagining Corn for Nutrition and Sustainability,” and she spoke about her research — evaluating the effect of cropping systems and Quality Protein Maize on yield, insect pressure and living mulch interactions for popcorn and sweetcorn in Nebraska.
Kamboj’s speech was titled “Hybrid Wheat Horizons: Advancing Yield for Future Food Security,” and he explained the importance of hybrid wheat, highlighting how yield gains arise from strong parental combinations and heterosis. Using an everyday analogy, Kamboj illustrated how higher-yielding hybrid wheat can enhance farmer productivity and help address future food security challenges.
“I participated in the Elevator Speech Contest as a learning experience and a way to challenge myself to communicate my research beyond a scientific audience,” Kamboj said. “When I first joined the UNL in 2023, I participated but did not receive an award; returning this year allowed me to see clear growth in my confidence, clarity and storytelling ability. This experience helped me realize how much I have developed in translating complex research into simple, meaningful messages, making it a truly rewarding and memorable experience.”
Altundas’ speech was titled “Sorghum Photosynthetic Trait Analysis,” and he explained why it is important to identify genes that enhance photosynthesis.
All the participants said they are interested in honing their communication skills.
“I am always grateful to be asked to be on the elevator speech contest judging team,” said Christine Booth, lecturer and Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Scientific Writing Help Desk coordinator. “It is a fun initiative that highlights the impactful work taking place in the department and across IANR while helping students build confidence, communication skills and the ability to connect with audiences in a more personal way.”
