1-2-3 Seminar 2026

1-2-3 Seminar is a student-ran seminar at the University of Washington that takes place every winter and spring quarter. This seminar is a place where we talk about topics near and dear to ourselves, geared towards engaging audiences that are graduate students across different fields. The format of each talk will be three examples in increasing complexity (1-2-3), presented with an emphasis on quality and engagement.

For the year 2025-2026, the 1-2-3 Seminar is organized by Zawad Chowdhury (zawadx@uw.edu) and Mallory Dolorfino (mallod2@uw.edu). If you would like the opportunity to present, please contact us!

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For speakers: we encourage you to choose any topic of math for your talk! There are only two requirements for your 50-minute talk:

1. Your talk should be formatted around three examples of increasing complexity (1-2-3). Theorems are not considered examples!

2. Your talk should be accessible to graduate students in other fields. People with just a background from first-year courses should understand at least the first half of your talk.

Check out the previous years' schedule if you need ideas!

This year, we're adding an option for speakers to get feedback from the audience (through a form you opt into), as well as new challenges you can incorporate into your 1-2-3 talk (for speakers who would like a bit more of a... trial). Some possible challenges include:

• 5 levels: Give the same talk but at five levels of understanding (someone not into math, a high schooler, a math major, another math grad student and your advisor)

• Pictionary: Only images in your slides

• Socratic Method: The talk is delivered mostly by asking questions

• Worksheet: Make a 12x-style worksheet for your talk

• Taboo: Some terms are banned

• Improv: Deliver a talk based on suggestions from the audience

• Wedding Toast: Deliver a talk with stories, like a wedding toast