Shapiro Showcase - Natural Sciences
The School of Natural Sciences invites applications for Natural Sciences representatives in the Shapiro Showcase, which will take place during Inquiry Weeks on Tuesday, April 9 and Wednesday, April 10. The top four finalists will present again during an awards ceremony on Friday, April 12 where OURI will announce a winner.
During four sessions, students will deliver 8-minute presentations evaluated by a panel of judges. Each session will feature a mix of projects from various disciplines. Students should be prepared to present their project to a general audience, not just those in their field. Judges will select a winner of the Shapiro Prize, a cash award. The other three finalists will also receive an award.
Students selected to represent the School of Natural Sciences in the Shapiro Showcase will receive a $100 award from the School. They will have access to practice sessions with faculty and staff who focus on science communication to provide feedback and help with preparation.
Students must be completing or intending to complete a major or minor in the School of Natural Sciences to apply. Students conducting research on- and off-campus are eligible for consideration.
NOTE: This application process is separate from the NSURS poster session process. Please fill out this registration form if you want to present a poster at NSURS.
The following application materials are due by Friday, March 15. If you would like to be considered for one of the Natural Sciences Shapiro Showcase nominations, please use this form to submit your abstract and video link.
- Provide an abstract (350 word maximum) to introduce evaluators to your work. If you have questions, connect with your research mentor to help prepare your abstract.
- Record a short, informal introduction video. The video should be 1:00 or less and should include an introduction (first name, last name, major, class standing) and let us know what your research is about and why it is important. The video can be recorded on your phone or via a computer application. Please name the video as follows: FirstNameLastName_IntroVideo.mp4. Provide a link to view/download your video with your application materials.
- Have your faculty research mentor submit a letter of recommendation (1-page maximum) to nsci@rice.edu addressing the research project status, your contributions to the project, command of the subject matter, communication skills, and prior experience presenting the material to various audiences.