Guidelines for Abstract Selection

Lightning Talk and Short Talk Competition

Abstract Evaluation Criteria

 

14th Annual Postdoc Research Exhibition

September 30, October 1, 2021

 

LIGHTNING TALK ABSTRACT SELECTION

In order to evaluate the abstracts for Lightning Talk competition in a fair and equitable manner, the following guidelines will be followed:

  • Length of the abstract is 100 words maximum.
  • Title of the abstract does not count towards the abstract and should be understandable to a lay audience.
  • Only title and abstract was shared with the selection committee members. No names or departmental affiliation will be known to them at the time of selection process. Selection committee will consist of lead exhibition committee member, one current postdoc, one postdoc alum working at Penn State and/or a teaching/research/tenure-track faculty member.
  • Adherence to the length of the abstract as given in the guideline
  • Abstracts will be evaluated on a scale of 1 to 10 for the following criteria:

    • How informative is the title and does it match up with the abstract content
    • Is the abstract a good synthesis of the research being done?
    • Is the abstract an indicator for an interesting lightning talk?
    • Is the abstract written in a way that makes the research accessible to an audience with diverse specialties?

The selection committee members individually evaluate the abstracts and those that were highest scoring and common to the members will be selected. The evaluation process included a detailed discussion on the abstracts based on the guidelines above.

Lightning Talks on the day of the competition will be evaluated for judges prize on the following criteria

  • Content/Narrative-clear narrative flow, thesis/take away message is communicated in the allotted time of 4 minutes
  • Presentation Style- slides are relevant and clear, the presentation can be understood by a general audience. Speaker is engaging.

Engaging presentation and staying within the time limit is critical! Further details will be sent to those selected to compete.

SHORT TALK

  • Abstracts have to be a maximum of 250 words.
  • Title should be easily understandable to a broad audience and does not count towards the  word count.

Abstract will be evaluated for the following criteria:

  • How informative is the title and does it match up with the abstract content
  • Is the abstract a good synthesis of the research being done?
  • Is the abstract an indicator for an interesting lightning talk?
  • Is the abstract written in a way that makes the research accessible to an audience with diverse specialties?

The selection committee members individually evaluate the abstracts and those that were highest scoring and common to the members will be selected. The evaluation process included a detailed discussion on the abstracts based on the guidelines above.

The short talks presenters on the day of the competition will be evaluated on

  • Organization (clear objectives, logical structure, signposting),
  • Mastery of the subject and ability to synthesize.
  • Communication skills, stage presence.
  • Effective slides.
  • Depth of commentary
  • Ability to answer questions

Engaging presentation and staying within the time limit is critical! Further details will be sent to those selected to compete.