---
tags: PitchFest
---
# Pitchfest 2024 - RAM support
===
[toc]
###### tags: 'PitchFest'

## The Coaches
The Pitchfest develoment programme is led by [Artesc](https://www.artesc.org/), with [Helen Duff](https://www.helenduff.com/) as the main coach. For the first session, Artesc founder [Gijs Meeusen](https://www.artesc.org/en/who-is-who/Gijs-Meeusen-1) ("g-eyes" with the "g" sounding like the "ch" in Scottish "loch" or Spanish "j" in jalapeño")

## The Dates
The development programme consists of three half day sessions:
- February 14th 9:00 - 12:30
- February 29th 09:30 - 13:00
- March 13th 09:00 - 13:00

| Name | February 14th | February 29th | March 13th|
| -------- | -------- | -------- | ------|
| Eisa | yes | yes | yes |
| Norbert | yes | yes but has to leave by 12 to Cambridge | yes |
| Lars | Maybe 2nd half (clashes with Baskerville — Accelerate your research with GPUs 2024 from 10 am) | yes | yes |
| Maryam | yes | not sure yet | no |
| Trisevgeni | yes | yes | no, Tris will be travelling |
| Anastasiia | yes | yes | yes |

#### Non-finalists attending first 1.5 h of first session

| Name | Attend? |
| -------- | -------- |
| Nikolai Juraschko | No |
| Jon Crowcroft | No |
| Neal Munyebvu | Maybe, will confirm on Wednesday 7th Feb |
| Amin Mekacher | Yes |
| Abhra Chaudhury | Yes |
| | |
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## Your Role
As a RAM you will play **supporting role** and **companion** to what the coaches suggest. However, the coaches will focus more on the presentations skills and the RAM team will work with the candidates more closely to **refine the narrative and wording of the pitch**.

You will be assigned one of the candidates who you will work with more closely on a 1-1 basis, however it is a collaborative programme, where **we all provide feedback to all candidates**.

What's in it for you?
You get to do very important RAM work **_literally_ translating research** into an accessible & impactful narrative that will draw AIUK's audience attention.
You get to listen in on the coaching provided by an experienced actress and **learn some new presentation hacks for free** on the way
You will 🌈**have fun 🦄✨** and get to hang out with great researchers and your besties ❤️ from the RAM team!

:::info
**What you need to do**

- Be a point of contact for your candidate in case they have question or doubts
- Meet with your candidate before each session and help them improve
- Attend at least 2 of the Pitchfest training sessions
- Create a friendly & welcoming atmosphere at the trainings
:::

# PitchFest RAM Buddy minimum expectations

## Minimum expectations
As a RAM buddy/mentor, you should help your mentee develop their pitch, using the feedback from Artesc as the guidelines for doing so. You should encourage and motivate them to develop their pitch, and most importantly, hype them up for the big event!
### Before the 1st session (14th February)
- Meet with your mentee at least once (e.g. 1 or 2 30-minute sessions)
- Read the documents from Artesc beforehand (these will be circulated soon)
- Work with your mentee to ensure they have completed their homework ahead of the first session (homework tbc)
### Before the 2nd session (29th February)
- Meet with your mentee at least once and help them implement the feedback that was given to them from the first session
- If you were not at the session in person: Go through the session recording, and at the very least the parts relevant to your mentee, so that you know what the feedback for them was
### Before the 3rd session (13th March)
- Meet with your mentee at least once and help them implement the feedback that was given to them from the session
- If you were not at the session in person: Go through the session recording, and at the very least the parts relevant to your mentee, so that you know what the feedback for them was

### Before PitchFest final practice (15th March)
- You should work with your mentee to ensure that the final version of the pitch is ready before the final practice session (this session will be hybrid for those who can't attend in person, but preferably in person because we have Enigma booked)

## What a RAM mentor is not expected to do
- Massively deviate from Artesc coach feedback and take pitch development in a completely different direction
- Do the pitch for them
- Sabotage other finalists in favour of their mentee :hot_pepper:

# Logistics
- [ ] Artesc has asked for whiteboard
- [ ] Need to communicate to Artesc the size of the smaller room? (need to check how much space without tables)
- [ ] Need to organize catering
- [x] Email Artesc list of finalists so that they can send the finalists preparation materials