Judging for IST Research

Use this judging form for research projects in all fields that are based on literature search. If the students collected data themselves or performed their own original statistical analysis of the data, use the Science scoring sheet instead. If the students designed a pamphlet to inform an audience, use the Design judging form instead.

Poster Judging Criteria

The purpose of a poster exhibit is to convey to a wide audience a research project's significance to scholars in the field and its potential significance to the general public. Exhibits will be judged on their quality in four areas:

1) Content - The exhibit must include:

  • Student name (or names, if more than one student is presenting the exhibit)
  • Collaborators, adviser(s), and department(s)
  • A short title of the exhibit
  • Funding sources (if applicable)
     

2) Display - The core of each exhibit is a poster with text and graphics intended for a general audience.

  • Poster should attract attention and convey important information about the project.
  • Language should be simple and descriptions brief. Excessive jargon should be avoided; necessary technical terms should be defined.
  • Spelling and grammar must be correct.
  • Photographs, drawings, charts, tables, or graphs should be simple, well organized, and carefully chosen when used to explain complicated technical concepts to a wide audience.

3) Report of Research

  • Does the project exhibit a thorough investigation of the topic
  • Are there indications of original, critical thought?
  • All in all, does the project show creativity?

3) Oral Presentation - Each student should prepare to describe and discuss his or her exhibit, tailored specifically to make the work understandable to a non-expert audience.

  • Description should be clear and concise, and should include the major points presented on the poster.
  • Presentation must not exceed 5 minutes; judges will be instructed to observe this time limit. Note: A videotape or demonstration cannot be submitted for the discussion.
  • In cases where the student worked with collaborators, including his or her adviser, the presentation should clearly describe the student's role in the overall project.
     

To view an example of the IST Research Judging Score Sheet, click here.