October 23: Packed with wild ideas like “poop to the rescue,” “rubber that fixes itself,” and “listening to the coldest whisper in the universe," the 2025 Nutshell Games will be just as fun for the audience as it is for the speakers. You’re invited to experience the excitement on Thursday, October 23, at 5:30 p.m. at the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech! Free and open to the public.

    In just 90 seconds each, 30 Virginia Tech graduate students will rise to the challenge, take the stage, and share their work in ways that are engaging, clear, and meaningful. No jargon. No slides. Just brilliant ideas, told from the heart.

     Although we think all of the participants are winners for bravely sharing their research,  five awards will be given — three from our judging panel of campus and community representatives, including two 7th graders, who ensure communication is grounded and accessible.

Judging Panel:

  • Greta Bieri, Blacksburg Middle School 7th grader
  • Barb Glaser, Blacksburg resident and retired teacher
  • Josh Grace, director of the Academy of Transdisciplinary Studies, Virginia Tech
  • Dickson Otieno, program associate, CALS Global (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech)
  • Tavia Pigg, Virginia Tech alum who recently found her way back “home” after four decades away
  • Ido Simundza, Blacksburg Middle School 7th grader 
  • Aimée Surprenant, dean for graduate education, Virginia Tech   

   And, for the first time ever, the Nutshell Games will also give out Audience Choice Awards, one you’ll help decide live at the event and a second for the most-watched talk on our YouTube channel in the first weeks following the event! Each winner’s home department will receive $500 for the winner's use in program-sanctioned research costs or conference participation.

    This year’s presenters represent research from across Virginia Tech: 

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

  • Bhaswati Chowdhury, Food Science and Technology, "It's what's on the outside that counts...at least for Salmonella"

  • Matthew Mair, Agricultural and Applied Economics, "Machine learning for migration modeling"
  • James Moloney, Biochemistry, "Mosquitoes eat nectar?! Toxic plants and invasive mosquitoes"
  • Madisen Plunkert, Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education, "Scrapple: It's what's for breakfast (and so much more)"
  • Pabina Pokharel, Biochemistry, "Locking: A method to enhance the gene editing efficiency of CRISPR"

  • Madhvi Singh, Food Science and Technology, "Fava beans: Tiny pods, big impact"

College of Engineering

  • Gabriel C. Briggs, Chemical Engineering, "Byte for bite: AI in flavor design"
  • Adwait HogePatil, Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, "Wind tunnels: Where airplanes learn to fly!"
  • Beyza Nur Guler, Engineering Education, "Who swiped left on my job application?"
  • Binita Saha, Macromolecular Science and Engineering, "What if bacteria helped fight cancer?"
  • Monica Shanmugam, Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, "A jet engine that can talk back"
  • Jai Sharma, Electrical and Computer Engineering, "When the tower lies: Stopping fake 5G signals"

College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences

  • Aline de Souza, Alliance for Social, Political, Ethical, and Cultural Thought, "Playing harp to transform immigration stories "

College of Natural Resources and Environment

  • Sithuni M. Jayasekara, Geography, "Entangled lives"
  • Pratirakshya Koirala, Geography, "Under the canopy: A shrub story from the Appalachians"
  • Anu Rai, Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, "Something fishy… But it’s not the fish"

College of Science

  • Jonathan Gendron, Economics, "Evaluating meta-regression techniques: A simulation study on heterogeneity in location and time"

  • Chaturanga Wengappuliarachchige,  Physics, "Listening to the coldest whisper in the universe"

  • Ibukun Olusola, Physics, "The nuclear snitch: How to catch quiet blasts"

  • Gabe Isaac, Neuroscience, "Ultrasound: A new tune for treating pain"

  • Chizoba Obunadike,  Chemistry, "How a common food supplement makes safe glues and rubbers that fix themselves"

  • Axel Campos, Physics, "Hosting a particle pool party to find out why the universe exists"

  • Matthew Dupuis, Chemistry, "How to treat highly resistant fungal infections when the current drugs stop working: Is there hope?"

  • Beija K. Gore, Biology, "Tiny tails, big pollutants: Tadpoles and microplastics"

  • Egor Kolesnikov, Physics, "Why cells with the same DNA are different"

Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine

  • Priscilla Atim, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, "Catching sneaky survivors in a fungal drug escape"
  • Ama Amoakoma Agyei, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, "Stress communication: The link between stress and herpes infection in neurons"
  • Marianne Beaulieu, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, "Poop to the rescue! Wastewater-based surveillance in rural Appalachia"
  • Mahfuzul Islam, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, "Lupus: When self-defense turns into self-destruction"

    From topics like Sri Lankan Indigenous knowledge to uncovering why the universe exists, this year will mark the tenth Nutshell Games!

     The event's lasting appeal?  It’s a one-of-a-kind chance to learn about fascinating research in just over an hour, cheer on students as they communicate beyond their comfort zones, and have fun connecting with your community. The evening will have you leaning in and leaving inspired. 

    So mark your calendar and join us at the 2025 Nutshell Games. Bring a friend, cheer for your favorites, and see how graduate students are shaping the future of science, technology, and society, all in a nutshell.

When: Thursday, October 23, 2025 – 5:30 p.m.
Where: Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre, Center for the Arts, Virginia Tech
Cost: Free and open to the public

Bonus: There will be an informal "cookie social" immediately following the Games in the Center for the Arts lobby where audience members can connect further with participants, ask burning questions, and learn more about their research!

Nutshell Games rules

  • Time: Presentations are limited to 90 seconds maximum. Timing will begin when the presenter starts the presentation through speech or movement.
  • Props: No PowerPoint slides are permitted. No additional electronic media (e.g., sound and video files) are permitted. One prop is permitted (for example, a piece of lab equipment or a photograph).
  • Presentations are to be spoken prose (i.e., no songs, poems, or raps).
  • Presentations are to begin in front of the audience.
  • The judges' decision is final.

Nutshell Games judging criteria

  • Did the presenter capture and keep the audience's attention?
  • Did the presenter convey enthusiasm for the research?
  • Did the presentation make the audience want to know more?
  • Was the research communicated in language appropriate to a public audience?
  • Did the presenter communicate the significance and background of the research?
  • Did the speaker have good eye contact and an interesting vocal range?
  • Did the presenter convey confidence in the research?

     Parking is available .2 miles from The Center for the Arts at the North End Parking Garage (paid parking) and in the Squires Parking Lot (free parking after 5 p.m.).  Handicapped parking is available on-site. Click here for a parking map and more information.

    If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Erin Smith at erinmsmith@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.