Student Research Showcase -- Sigma Xi

Can you explain your research to a broad audience? Join undergraduate, graduate, and high school students as they compete for awards in recognition of outstanding virtual research presentations. The Student Research Showcase is a unique opportunity for students to develop effective science communication skills, which every researcher should have. Those who are able to communicate the value of their research to a broader audience are at an advantage in terms of building financial and social support for their work. The online competition is open to most research disciplines in the United States and worldwide. Participants submit websites containing three main components: a research abstract, a technical slideshow, and a video. The video component challenges participants to present their research to a general audience. During the judging period, more than sixty Sigma Xi members volunteer as judges to evaluate students’ submissions and engage in digital conversations with presenters through their websites.

Students can submit an abstract by February 22 for the 2019 Student Research Showcase, Sigma Xi’s online science communication competition. The seventh annual online competition will challenge high school through graduate school students to create a website containing a slideshow, video, and abstract about their research. See www.sigmaxi.org/srs

The showcase accepts students with research projects in the following categories: agriculture, soil, and natural resources; anthropology; cell biology and biochemistry; chemistry; ecology and evolutionary biology; engineering; environmental sciences; geosciences; human behavioral and social sciences; math and computer science; microbiology and molecular biology; physics and astronomy; and physiology and immunology.

Students whose abstracts are accepted must submit presentation websites and register by March 22, and judging will occur April 15–29. Judges will select the top presenters in the high school, undergraduate, and graduate divisions; each winner will receive awards up to $500. Judges will also select top presenters in each research category. A public vote will select one presentation for a $250 People’s Choice Award. All participants receive a certificate of participation. Sigma Xi members are invited to serve as judges. Participating students receive feedback from professional researchers. They also develop science communication skills by crafting pieces of their presentation for different audiences, from the technical to the nontechnical.