Competition Guidelines
SWAAG again will feature separate presentation competitions for graduate and undergraduate students and for papers (talks) and posters at our 2023 meeting in Laredo, Texas.
Research must have been conducted recently – during the author's undergraduate or graduate studies – and can include thesis and dissertation topics. At the time of presentation, the applicant must still be a student. Papers and posters must be produced entirely by the applicant; however, thesis and dissertation advisors and collaborators may be co‐authors on the papers and posters.
Research must have been conducted recently – during the author's undergraduate or graduate studies – and can include thesis and dissertation topics. At the time of presentation, the applicant must still be a student. Papers and posters must be produced entirely by the applicant; however, thesis and dissertation advisors and collaborators may be co‐authors on the papers and posters.
each student who wishes to enter a competition Must:
- Register for the SWAAG meeting at the AAG registration portal for SWAAG -- you will need to indicate there if you are a student entering the competition;
- Submit a regular abstract through the AAG abstract submission portal; and
- Submit an extended abstract via email to Randy Peppler, SWAAG Treasurer.
- The extended abstract, no longer than 500 words in length, should provide more depth on the aim of the research project, its methodology, and a preview of the results to be presented (see judging criteria below). It needs to indicate which competition (graduate or undergraduate, paper or poster) it is being entered for.
- Should there be more than 10 entries per category for the competition, the extended abstract will be used by a panel of SWAAG university faculty judges to determine which entries will be included in this competition.
- The emailed extended abstracts are due by 5:00 PM Central on Saturday, October 7th, 2023. Extended abstracts submitted after that time will not be eligible for the student competitions. - You must copy your advisor in the email submitting your extended abstract. In this email, you need to:
- Acknowledge in the email body that "My advisor has received this extended abstract and approves its submission for the student competition."; and
- List your advisor's name and email address
Upon receipt of your extended abstract, the SWAAG Treasurer will send your advisor a link to a form in which they assess your project. This "Advisor's Form" must be submitted by your advisor by 5:00 PM Central on Saturday, October 14th, 2023. Late advisor forms will not be accepted and failure to submit the advisor form on time will disqualify the student from the student competitions.
The SWAAG Treasurer will send all qualified extended abstracts to the judges. Each judge will have one week to review the extended abstracts and convey their ranking of them to the SWAAG Treasurer. Ranking will be based on the following criteria:
Students who are not selected for the competition categories will still present their papers or posters in regular sessions and will not be considered for the student awards.
Students who are selected for the competition will present their papers or posters in special sessions created by the Program Committee for the categories. Judges will be assigned to these sessions and rank the presentations based both on the extended abstract criteria listed above and the following presentation criteria:
Following the last competition session, the judges will convene to determine the winners of the competitions.
The SWAAG Treasurer will send all qualified extended abstracts to the judges. Each judge will have one week to review the extended abstracts and convey their ranking of them to the SWAAG Treasurer. Ranking will be based on the following criteria:
- Originality and significance of the research;
- Strength of the problem statement, research objectives, and research questions;
- Depth of engagement with supporting literature;
- Appropriateness of the methodological approach; and
- Quality of the results, discussions, and conclusions
Students who are not selected for the competition categories will still present their papers or posters in regular sessions and will not be considered for the student awards.
Students who are selected for the competition will present their papers or posters in special sessions created by the Program Committee for the categories. Judges will be assigned to these sessions and rank the presentations based both on the extended abstract criteria listed above and the following presentation criteria:
- Paper: Flow, time management, delivery (voice, tone, body language, eye contact, language, enthusiasm), responses to questions from the audience (knowledge, confidence) and overall presentation quality.
- Poster: Flow, legibility, readability, use of graphics, attitude and engagement with audience, and overall visual appeal.
Following the last competition session, the judges will convene to determine the winners of the competitions.
- Winners will be announced during the SWAAG Dinner and Awards Session on Friday evening, November 3rd, 2023. Winners will receive a cash award and certificate after the meeting.
Evaluation rubrics can be found here:
Student extended abstract evaluation form
Student paper presentation evaluation form
Student poster presentation evaluation form
Student paper presentation evaluation form
Student poster presentation evaluation form
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