Info for Presenters

Oral Presentations 

Oral presentations should be 12 minutes and made in PowerPoint using the 4:3 ratio (not widescreen). MAC users should convert presentations to PDF to ensure reliable projection. Please bring your presentations on USB sticks to transfer to the PC computer in the auditorium. We will not be able to switch computers during the oral sessions.

AGU OSPA Criteria:

  • Audibility from rear of room, with reasonably clear enunciation and absence of “um,” “er,” “you know,” etc.
  • Effective use of time.  Extra credit may be given if the talk ends early with time for questions. Points will be taken off for presentations that run past 12 minutes.
  • Slides/view graphs should be legible from the back of room, labeled well and not crowded.  The main point of the figure should be obvious without explanation.  There should not be too many slides and points, nor should there be large data tables or multiple graphs on one figure.
  • The poise with which the student handles questions, understands the point of the questions and are able to answer them.

Poster Presentations 

Posters must be no more than 32″ tall x 44″ wide. Posters must be printed prior to the symposium and brought to the symposium on the day of the poster session; there will be no access to poster printing at the symposium. 

AGU OSPA Criteria:

  • The student must be present for the entire poster session — their presentation of the poster is being judged, rather than the poster itself.  Students should place a note at their poster that they had to step away for 1-2 minutes if necessary. Judges will not judge posters without notes or posters with notes but unattended for more than 10 minutes.
  • Students should speak clearly.  They should tell their audiences enough to explain any item, without going into excessive detail (unless it is asked for).  They should explain the poster logically, starting with background and going on to results and conclusions.
  • The figures should be neat and legible.  The poster should be logically arranged, rather than a jumble of figures in disarray.  The title should be easily legible from 10 feet away and there should be an abstract or some short summary for those who just want to read.  Points will be deducted for too much or not enough text.
  • There should be some sort of summary diagram or list of conclusions.
  • The figures should be designed to be informative in a poster context, not just copies of something for publication.
  • Extra credit might be given for eye-catching set-up and use of color.
  • Students should be able to handle the poster presentation by themselves. Points will be deducted if he/she turns to the advisor for help.
  • Arrangement should be logical and should explain the problem to be addressed, describe the methods (briefly), present the results, and draw explicit conclusions.  Points will be deducted for diverging into unnecessary details.
  • The purpose of the study should be clear, not just a description of data.  At least one conclusion should be reached and substantiated by the data.
  • The study should contribute something new to the field, such as useful new data, a new model or a test of an old model.  There should be evidence of familiarity with the literature and work of others.
  • The data should be enough to support conclusions but not overwhelming.
  • A few results that demonstrate the trend are better than trying to show every piece of data.
  • Either verbally or visually, there should be a statement of the problem and of the conclusions.

Oral and Poster Prize Information

First, second and third place cash prizes will be awarded for the top graduate student oral and poster presentations.

Students must be present at the Awards Ceremony to claim their prizes.

Judges will be evaluating the quality of presentations and their content.

Abstracts due March 16th.