3-Minute Thesis

Center for Advanced Pain Studies (CAPS) 3-minute Undergraduate Thesis Competition Fall 2024

Date: Wednesday, December 4, 1:00 pm

1. Eligibility
  • Participants: Open to currently enrolled undergraduate students working in a CAPS faculty lab.
  • Research Requirement: Each participant must present original research or a project they have conducted as part of their undergraduate studies (e.g., thesis, capstone project, summer research).
2. Presentation Guidelines
  • Time Limit: Presentations must be no longer than 3 minutes. An iPad with a countdown timer will be visible to participants, and presentations exceeding the limit will be disqualified or penalized.
  • Questions: At the end of the presentation, there will be 2 minutes available for questions.
  • Visual Aid: Each participant is allowed one static PowerPoint slide (no transitions, animations, or multimedia allowed). No additional props or notes are permitted.
  • Accessibility: Participants should avoid jargon or highly technical language to ensure the presentation is understandable to a general audience
  • No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
  • No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
3. Judging Criteria
  • Presentations will be evaluated based on the following categories, each rated on a scale of 1-10:
    • Comprehension and Content
      • Did the presentation provide a clear background and significance to the research question?
      • Did the presentation clearly describe the research strategy/design and the results/findings of the research?
      • Did the presentation clearly describe the conclusions, outcomes, and impact of the research?
    • Engagement and Communication
      • Was the oration delivered clearly, and in language appropriate for a non-specialist audience?
      • Was the PowerPoint slide clear and did it enhance the presentation?
      • Did the presenter address and answer questions clearly and thoroughly?  
  • Scoring Process: Judges’ scores will be averaged, and in the event of a tie, additional criteria such as audience votes (if applicable) or further discussion among judges can be used to decide the winner.
4. Awards
  • Prizes: Cash prizes or awards will be given for:
    • First Place: $300
    • Runner-Up: $150
5. Registration and Deadlines
  • Registration: Participants must email Marcos Chavez by November 22nd, 2024.
  • Slide Submission: Slides must be submitted to Kate Sadler by 11:59 pm on Monday, December 2 for inclusion in the event.