Prepare
Your Presentation
Create the project
exhibit board, being sure to follow the display and safety rules. Practice the
presentation and prepare to answer the judge’s questions. Present the project
at your school science fair and/or at an Intel ISEF-affiliated fair.
ADVICE FROM ALUMNI
Your
presentation board should be appealing to the eye and should explain both what
you did and what you found. Pictures are very helpful and often say more than
words. Diagrams are also very useful as they allow the public to follow your
train of thought easily and without confusion. Avoid putting up your entire
written report; try explaining your project visually with graphs, diagrams,
pictures and subtitles. Use color to separate ideas and arrows to direct your audience.
Avoid buying expensive presentation tools. Your artistic touch is much more
appreciated and shows your involvement in the project.
Make
sure your posters clearly outline what your project is about. You should be
able to get what the project is, how it works, and how it was created from the
posters.
Have
you display board look professional and not too crowded. Remember that large
boards do not always indicate good projects.
You
will see a tremendous range of backboards at the Intel ISEF. Some will be
equipped with remote controls, projection screens, fancy lights, or even
personal power supplies. Some will look like they were assembled in an hour,
because in many cases they were. Remember, people come to the Intel ISEF from
all around the world, and sometimes they can't ship their completed backboards,
and have to build them on-site. While it may seem that being in this position
puts you at a serious disadvantage, don't worry. The reality is that the judges
are keen enough to recognize good science, as long as it is presented
reasonably well. The most important part of your presentation is verbal, and
few judges will actually read most of your backboard. My advice is to not
devote too much time to making your backboard look good, and to spend that time
on your research.
Rehearse
Your Presentation
ADVICE FROM ALUMNI
Do
not memorize your presentation. I repeat, do not memorize your presentation.
You should target your presentation to your audience every time, and this means
changing it. To do this, of course, you have to know something about your
audience. I suggest you use the first minute or two of your time to ask your
judge about his background. You may learn, for example, that the last time your
physics judge saw anything related to your project was in college, and that
he's spent the last 30 years doing an entirely different kind of research. Or,
you could find out that your military judge really wants to know if your
project can help build a better computer (perhaps for nuclear weapons
simulations, but not necessarily so).
Relax.
The judges are usually are friendly, and they aren't out to make mince meat of
your project. Just tell them what it's about naturally, and answer their
questions.
Practice
in front of a mirror and try to eliminate "ummm" from your speech.
Don't spend too much time explaining your project so that the judge will have
plenty of time to ask questions. Be confident in yourself. Look professional,
smile, and relax.
I've
learned through experience and friends that the more enthusiastic you are about
your project, the more excited the judges will be about it. Also, make your
project appear wonderful, because in a lot of ways it probably is, but also
remember the limitations of your project. Recognizing the limitations of data
is a key to almost any scientific pursuit.
Rehearse,
rehearse, rehearse. The best presentations are made by the groups most
comfortable doing them. Anticipate questions that might be asked. Be prepared.
The
oral presentation is also very important. Make sure you speak clearly and that
you take the time to ask your audience if they have any questions. It is
important to cover everything briefly, even your failed attempts, and to do so
in a logical pattern. Don't spend too much time on one thing. If you are working
with a partner, take your turn explaining the project and switch every five
minutes or so. This way, it allows your audience to differentiate between
sections and will add energy to your presentation. Teamwork is essential. Work
together and help each other out.
Enjoy
the Experience!
ADVICE FROM ALUMNI
Don't
participate in science fairs for the awards. Don't do science for the
recognition. Don't compare yourself to anyone else and don't force yourself to
do it. Do it because you love it and because you can make a difference. Help
your community and contribute to society. Learn through your experiences and
discover the world around you. Such is the true reward of science.
Don't
be afraid to try something even though it might not work. Things rarely work
the first time. Learn from your mistakes, discover as you try different things,
and never give up.
Remember
that science fair is supposed to be fun and don't let it stress you out too
much and good luck to everyone!
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