system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Big academic opportunity - need advice

Hey everyone, 

About 6 months ago I received a call for proposals for a huge International Relations Congress, and thinking I had nothing to lose, I applied. 

Last month I was basically told that my abstract was accepted and that I was invited as a discussant as part of a research panel. I thought "hey, why not, that sounds cool, I'll be discussing with other graduate students!"...well not really. 
 
I just got a first look at those who will be discussant in my panel, and to be honest they're all far more qualified than I am. All of the discussants are either professors, Phds or PhDs candidates and I'm here, the little first year grad student...

The presentation I will make is on a rather serious topic (terrorism), and on a specific aspect of it that I truly feel has been underexploited, but at the same time, I feel a bit inadequate in the sense that I fear to not be able to actually communicate my ideas adequately. 

I wanted to know if anyone had a similar experience or tips so that I can prepare myself better. 


Thank you all, 

Cheers!
gpt
Been there, done that, it is a great opportunity, go for it.  Your job is to find nuance and interest in their papers, not to be a hard line critic.  

As for your own work, give a few practice presentations to your peers and you should be fine.