Presentation Guidelines
How to approach your project
While we expect each project in this high school energy competition to be unique, there are a few elements that all should have in common. As you develop your project, include and document the following five steps:
- Background. Summarize the problem under investigation or the hypothesis you will explore.
- Methods. Identify the methods or protocols you use to accomplish your research or design.
- Results. Provide an overview of the key points of your study. Your presentation should have enough depth to allow judges to evaluate the content.
- Conclusions. Summarize your findings.
- Sum it up in your abstract. When you register for the competition, you will need to provide an abstract—150 words or less—briefly describing each of the four steps above as they relate to your project.
Presentation options
Presentations should be no more than five minutes in length. The ways in which you may present your materials include, but are not limited, to the following:
Physical model
Space will be available for tabletop displays or for displays needing floor space. When you register, please let us know the maximum space you will need for your presentation. Keep in mind that tables are three feet wide and eight feet long.
Poster
Your poster may be as large as 48” high x 60” wide, but no larger, please. When you arrive at the competition, we’ll ask you to pin your poster to a poster board (we’ll provide the pins), so please do not pre-mount it on a stiff board. (Taping your poster to the board is not an option.)
Computer presentation
Your computer presentation must be visible on a computer sitting on the furnished table. If projection is needed, the projection screen must be set up in the secondary exhibition area, described below. You must furnish your own equipment (computers, projection screen, etc.).
• PowerPoint: Your presentation should be 30 slides or less. Please bring your own computer.
• DVD/Video: You may use either CD or DVD format and must furnish your own computer. You may want to provide headphones to aid viewers in hearing the presentation.
• Web Site: The facility will have wireless access, but you will need to bring your own computer. Because no technology is 100 percent reliable, we recommend that you bring a backup copy of your presentation on your hard drive, so that you may proceed in the event of a technological malfunction.
Display space and equipment
As a general rule, you should bring whatever equipment you need for your presentation. The facility will provide space to display your project in either of two exhibition areas.
1. The main exhibition area
Every participating team will be represented in this area. Project displays must fit in the allotted space. Each team will be allocated the following:
• A table that is three feet wide by eight feet long.
• A stiff display board (four feet high by five feet long) on which you’ll pin your poster, if you have one. Pins are provided, too.
• An electrical outlet.
Each team is responsible for furnishing any other equipment (such as computers, projection screens, etc.) that they need for their display.
2. The secondary exhibition area
This area offers supplemental space for models, schematics, and other display items that will not fit onto a three-foot by eight-foot table in the main exhibition area. You may reserve space in the secondary exhibition area when you register and must indicate how much additional space you need.
Although projects with additional displays in the secondary exhibition area will carry a notation in the competition program, it will be up to your team to inform judges that you have additional materials in the secondary exhibition space and to encourage judges to visit this space. You must staff both the main and secondary exhibition areas with at least one team member.
Display restrictions
• Water
If you are using water in your display, you must provide a containment device in case of spills.
• Flames
Absolutely no flames are allowed.
New for 2010
See new guidelines for awards, project displays, presentations, and more.
Limit your presentation to five minutes.
Judges will view your presentation at the competition. Be prepared to summarize your background, methods, results, and conclusion in five minutes or less.