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GUIDELINES

PROCEDURE FOR QUALIFYING TO PRESENT RESEARCH AT THE 2010 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WESTERN NEVADA JR.SCIENCE AND HUMANITIES SYMPOSIUM

Procedure

1. All presenter applicants must submit the following by Friday, January 8, 2010
• An abstract of up to 200 words in the approved format on the form provided
• A formal research paper of no more than 20 pages
• A completed Student Data and Statement of Outside Assistance Form including the required signature page


2. Presenter applicants whose work involves vertebrate animals, humans, recombinant DNA, or any pathogenic substance must also submit completed SRC Project Proposal Form no later than December 11, 2009. If you are working with humans, you must keep a file of the Human Consent Forms, one for each subject in your sample.

Links to Forms
Project Proposal Form
Student Data and Statement of Outside Assisstnace Form
Abstract Form
Judging Criteria Form
You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the forms.

3. Student applicants will first present their papers in an oral/power point format to a screening committee during the week of February 15-19, 2010.
   • The sessions will be held at U.C. Berkeley; U.C. Davis; University of Nevada, Reno; and California State University, Fresno.
   • Students will be assigned based on where they live.
   • A panel of judges at each site will rank order the presentations, using the oral presentation and the abstract, based on the judging criteria.
   
   
4. After the oral presentations are completed, a panel of professors, scientists and teachers at the University of California, Berkeley, will then determine the sixteen students who will present their work at the Regional Symposium using the screening site results and the formal research papers.


5. Presenter applicants will be notified of the judging results during the week of February 22, 2010.


6. All decisions of the judging panels are final.

Notes:

• Each school is limited to three submissions for preliminary screening
• All forms, papers and/or abstracts may be revised or amended after original submission.

  If the changes are made after one week prior to the screening or the Regional Symposium, the student should bring

  Nine copies of any of the forms that have been updated.
  Only one copy of a new Formal Research Paper will be needed.

Appendices:
Guidlines for Preparation of the Abstract
Guidelines for Preparation of Papers
Rules for Oral Presentations
Suggestions for Oral Presentations

BE SURE TO READ AND FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR PAPERS AND ORAL PRESENTATIONS, WHICH FOLLOW

Guidelines for Praparation of the Abstract

• The Abstract should be submitted on the Abstract Form provided
• It is recommended that you type and print your abstract, then cut and paste it onto the Abstract Form and copy it so that it is a single document.
• The Abstract Form has very specific instructions for the required information and format. Since the abstracts of the Regional Finalists will be published, it is very important that you follow the guidelines exactly as described.

Guidelines for Preparation of the Formal Research Paper

• The oral presentation and Abstract are the primary sources of evaluation in the judging process. The research paper is a supporting document, which is used to verify data, processes, and conclusions mentioned in the oral presentation.
• The paper should be no less than five (5) pages, and may not be any longer than twenty (20) pages, including all appendices and references.
• The paper must be typed, double spaced on white paper on one side only. Use black 10 to 12 point Times, Times New Roman type. Tables, diagrams, charts, photographs, or other graphic representations may be, but are not required to be, in color.
• A recommended outline for the formal research paper is as follows:
  • A title or cover page stating the full title of your research, your name, home address, home phone and email, school, school address, school phone and email, teacher sponsor, and mentor if applicable. (Please include fax numbers if they are available)
  • Table of Contents
  • Introduction (this may be, but is not required to be, your abstract)
  • Materials and Methods
  • Results and/or Findings
  • Discussion and Conclusions
  • References and/or Literature Cited
  • Acknowledgemet of any Major Assistance Received
  • Appendices, if necessary

Rules for the Oral Presentation

• TIMING IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT! Your oral presentation is limited to twelve (12) minutes. at NINE (9) minutes, the timer will alert you with a signal so that you can adjust your presentation, if necessary, in order to finish in the allotted time. You will be required to stop your presentation at twelve (12) minutes by completing the last sentence.
• Your presentation will be followed by a six (6) minute question period. The moderator will field the questions, you will repeat the question then direct your answer to the whole audience. The moderator will give priority to questions from the judges, with questions from the audience as time permits.
• USE OF AUDIO-VISUAL MATERIALS:
  • PC LAPTOP COMPUTER AND A DATA PROJECTOR WILL BE PROVIDED FOR YOUR POWER POINT PROJECTION, AND A LASER POINTER WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR YOU IF YOU NEED IT.
  • PLEASE BRING A DISC OR FLASH DRIVE WITH YOUR PRESENTATION TO UPLOAD ONTO THE JSHS COMPUTER.
  • IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT COMPATABILITY OF YOUR FLASH DRIVE, PLEASE CONTACT THE JSHS OFFICE.
  • YOU SHOULD BRING YOUR LAPTOP COMPUTER IN CASE OF EQUIPMENT COMPATABILITY ISSUES, BUT USE OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY IS DISCOURAGED.
  • IF YOU HAVE A MAC, BE SURE TO BRING AN ADAPTOR FOR THE PROJECTOR IN CASE YOU NEED TO USE YOUR OWN COMPUTER.
  • It is recommended that you bring a set of transparencies and/or slides as a backup in case of last minute electronic equipment issues.
  • It is permissible to use a VHS tape subject to the following limitations:
    
    1. Only VHS format 1/2” tape is permitted
    2. The video component of your presentation may not last more than two (2) minutes And is counted as part of your allotted twelve (12) minutes
    3. No audio of background music is permitted other than sounds which are an integral part of your research
    4. Recorded or mechanically produced narration is not permitted
    5. Video or taped audio must be used only for those aspects of the presentation which cannot be adequately presented by power point, slide or overhead transparency
    6. Videos must be an integral part of the research and not a substitute for presentation of data, common procedures, laboratory equipment or used for simulation or aesthetic enhancement
    7. Any presenter wishing to use video or audio presentation is required to proved their Own equipment

    Suggestions for Preparation of the Oral Presentation

    • You are the expert about the work you have done. No one in the audience, including the judges, knows as much as you do about your work. Therefore, remember to explain what you did in enough detail that your audience, and the judges, will understand what you did, how you did it, and what you learned.
    • Whenever possible, avoid jargon on or unnecessary technical terminology. If it is essential to use specialized terms, be sure to briefly explain them. Finally, give your audience enough time to understand what you are trying to convey.
    • Practice delivering your presentation to as many non-specialized audiences as possible (eg. classes, service clubs, school assemblies, etc).
    • Work on your timing so that you are able to deliver your presentation at a comfortable pace within the 12 minute time limit.
    • Be sure that you are comfortable with the science that is the basis of your work since the judges will want to be sure that you are knowledgeable about what you have done.
    • The judges will be very interested in hearing about (based on the judging form criteria)
      • Your involvement in selecting the work you have done
      • Your understanding of the research problem
      • Your involvement in designing the investigation
      • Your understanding of the background information relevant to the research
      • What you have learned and your ability to communicate that
    • If you use graphs, tables, or other representations to help explain your work, be sure these are clear, uncluttered, and easily seen and understood by your audience.
    • Be sure to define the variables on both axes of your graphs, and state the significance of the position and shape of your graph lines.
    • Remember that the question period of your presentation is for you to clarify points you have made and to “sell” your work. This time is to your benefit and not to be feared.
    • The teacher moderator will supervise the questioning and select the questioner. When the question is asked, be sure to repeat it so that you are clear about what has been asked, then process what you want to say, and tell it to the whole audience.

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  Lawrence Hall of Science    © Saturday, 07-Nov-2009 17:21:41 PST The Regents of the University of California    lhsweb@berkeley.edu    Updated Monday, 21-Sep-2009 11:36:54 PDT