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SBU Postdoc Spotlight Rules and Judging

Presentation Rules

The Slide

  • Single static PowerPoint slide to be presented from the beginning of the oration
  • No slide transitions or animations.

Timing

  • Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum.
  • Competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.

Restrictions

  • No additional electronic media (sound or video).
  • No additional props (costumes, musical instruments, lab equipment).
  • Spoken word only (no poems, raps, or songs).

 

Commencing the Presentation

Presentations commence from the stage or, for online competition, from a video screen. The clock starts when you speak your first word. You are allowed to finish your final sentence if time is called while speaking it. The adjudicating panel's decision is final.

 

Judging Criteria

The talks will be evaluated by a panel of judges from a range of backgrounds and disciplines for how well the speaker engages a general audience of non-specialists and can convey the excitement and innovation of their research without jargon or distortion. Presentations are evaluated on Clarity, Content and Engagement, each worth up to 10 points.

Clarity
10 Points
  • Did you (the judge) find the presentation followed a clear and logical order?
  • Did you feel the language used was appropriate for a non-specialist audience?
  • Did you find the presentation slides clear and easy to follow?
Content
10 Points
  • Did you understand the significance of the thesis to the field, culture, and/or society?
  • Did you understand the approach or method taken to address the thesis questions?
  • Did you understand the conclusions and findings from the thesis?
Engagement
10 Points
  • Did you feel the presentation slides enhanced your engagement with the presentation?
  • Did the presenter capture and maintain your attention?
  • Did the presenter effectively use techniques to connect with you and the audience, such as analogies, stories or questions?

 

Learn from Past Winners

We encourage participants to explore past competitions to gain inspiration and insight as they prepare their own presentations.

Watch Winning Presentations