Criteria for Outstanding Presentations

Participating in research as an undergraduate has many benefits, including developing your ability to think creatively and solve problems.  Impressive intellectual independence and communication skills are recognized in students that persist and present their research.  Getting to this point is an achievement that you should be proud of! Our goal in Scholars Week is to give you this forum to talk about your research to others, as well as to provide feedback on your research and presentation. You may be visited by 1 or 2 "Scholars Week Judges" that will listen to your presentation and score you using the criteria listed below.  Engage with these individuals and use this opportunity to hone your skills. URSA Awards are given to the "Outstanding Presentations" based on the recommendation of the judges.

1. Abstract. Is it matched to the presentation? Is it concise and well-written?  

2. Delivery style.  Did the student's voice quality and volume, delivery rate, grammar, audience engagement, eye contact, timing (length of presentation), and visual aids (if applicable) add to the success of the presentation? 

3. Organization and visual appeal.  Are the parts of a scientific experiment present (if applicable)? Is emphasis given to important results?  The emphasis here is on the flow and organization of the research project using the poster or presentation design. Are text and visual elements balanced? For non-experimental presentations, please evaluate the relevance of content and the effectiveness of the design.   

4. Research plan or thesis. Did the student use appropriate methodology and analysis of the data or evidence, and form logical conclusions? 

5. Please evaluate the readability and visibility of the figures or illustrations.  Do the figures have a positive impact on the presentation? Where applicable, are data and legends accurate and well-designed?  Are data visualized effectively? Are statistical tests used if required?  

6. Please evaluate the student's expertise. How does the student reference or demonstrate knowledge of related literature or previous work? Is the student able to answer questions effectively? 

7. Please give your overall rating for this student and poster presentation.  Would you recommend this poster presentation for a regional undergraduate conference or an URSA poster presentation award? 

8.  Please provide feedback helpful for improvement to the presenters.  This will be shared with the students if requested.