STUDENT SHOWCASE

Download Competition Information

Science in 4-minutes or less!

The 2022 Student Showcase will feature 4-minute ‘lightning talks’, bite-sized bits of science that showcase the essence of your research. Though it can be more challenging to deliver an impactful lightning talk than a 20-minute presentation, this important scientific communication skill can engage an audience in a wide variety of topics in a short amount of time. For more information please download the HD22 Student Showcase Guidebook!

Students are tasked with presenting an engaging snap-shot of their research, prepared for both academic and non-academic audiences. These “big-picture” presentations should discuss real-world applications, advice, and future research directions.

 

Audience

Hydrology Days evaluators include BOTH traditional academic researchers and non-academic audiences (e.g., consultants/private industry, municipalities/utilities, government, and non-profit organizations working across the Food-Energy-Water sector).

  • Focus on these four questions: What was the motivation for conducting your research? What did you do? What did you or do you expect to find? Why does it matter (real-world implications or advice)?

 

 

Lightning Tips

Make sure to download the HD-2022 Student Showcase Guidebook which provides helpful information about the intentions, audience and additional resources to preparing your presentation!

Check out this 18-minute workshop for more tips: https://academicaffairs.oregonstate.edu/research/lightning-talk

Here are a few recommendations from the Nature Career Guide published on June 23, 2021:

Start strong. In the first few sentences, the audience should know why they need to pay attention. You have a fraction of your allotted minutes to establish credibility.

Tell a story. Whether a talk is one minute long or 20, it should be framed by a basic narrative. Start with a research question and follow up with experimental methods and results: the credibility that you established at the outset will build, and the audience can actually learn something.

Pace yourself. It’s normal to speak quickly when the clock is ticking, but that isn’t the best way to convey complicated scientific concepts. Don’t try to fit in more words per minute; instead, find words and images that really matter.

Keep slides simple. Some lightning speakers try to cram many concepts into each slide, but that’s a mistake. Images should be as economical as words, holding just enough information to make important points without visual overload.

Practice. Don’t follow a script, but you should practice your talk enough to know where you’re going and how long it takes to get there.

Powerpoint Templates

Participants must adhere to the following guidelines:

  • Contestants must have a NAME slide – place this slide BEFORE your content slide
  • Prepare slide in 16:9 aspect ratio
  • Slides must be emailed to Sarah Millonig no later than 5pm Wednesday April 20, 2022 (there will NOT be time to upload your slides right before you present!)

Though not required, students may consider using the templates below to organize their presentations.  While there is no limit to the number of slides you may present during your 4-minutes, please keep your slides simple and follow the tips provided in the Student Showcase Guidebook!

 

Abstract Template

All presentations are to be accompanied by an abstract for publication in the conference proceedings. The format should follow the template and instructions here:

 

Prizes

Cash prizes will be awarded to the top-scoring student presentations. In addition, select presenters will be featured in a special issue of Colorado Water; the publication produced by the Colorado Water Center devoted to highlighting water research and activities at CSU and throughout Colorado. Check out the most recent Special Hydrology Days Issue of Colorado Water!

Depending on the number of participants, cash prizes may be awarded in multiple categories (i.e., there may be more than one round of awards):

  • First Place = $500
  • Second Place = $250
  • Third Place = $100

Eligibility

Those interested in entering the competition must adhere to posted deadlines, register and submit an abstract (select “Student Showcase (lightning talk)”) to finalize their participation. 

  • Students are defined as those enrolled at an accredited university in an Undergraduate, Masters, or PhD program
  • Students must submit a properly formatted abstract by March 1, 2022
  • Students are required to present their work in the assigned session
  • Register for the conference as a student by April 1, 2022

Selected competitors will be contacted to confirm participation in the Student Showcase in mid-March. 

 

Posters

Though posters will not be included in the student competition, students are also encouraged to present a scientific research poster. 

Please be sure to indicate your preference for a poster presentation on the online abstract submission (select “Poster” under session options).  We will provide pins and other supplies to mount your posters.

Dimensions

HDs posters are expected to follow the following dimensions: 45″(w) x 36″ (h). We will supply poster boards which will have TWO posters placed side-by-side on each board so please adhere to the posted dimensions to ensure everyone has adequate space to share their work. In addition to the poster board, there will be a table on which you can place handouts or other information for interested people. 

* Final acceptance in the scientific program is contingent on receipt of formatted abstract by the posted deadline AND completed conference registration

This event is organized by the One Water Solutions Institute at Colorado State University.  For questions or comments regarding Hydrology Days please contact: hydrologydays@engr.colostate.edu