Competition Rules

1. The competition is open to all degree-seeking UNC-Charlotte graduate students. Students must be enrolled in classes during the semester in which the competition is held.

2. The presentations are oral and posters. Computers and LCD projectors will be provided in SMART classrooms.

3. The research project must represent research pursued at UNC-Charlotte in the academic year 2007-2008.

4. The student must follow principles of responsible conduct to research.

5. Students must use the abstract form available via the link on the Niner Research Across the Disciplines homepage.

6. Each entrant is required to submit a typed abstract of no more than 300 words in length describing the research project. Abstracts are due no later than 5:00 p.m. on February 1, 2008.

7. The abstract form must be filled out completely and returned with the abstract.

8. Where multiple people are involved, the student must acknowledge them in the presentation using the presentation media chosen (PowerPoint or overheads).

9. The presentation—although not judged specifically on presentation skills—must be unified, coherent, and delivered according to appropriate standards for formal public address.

10. The presentation will be judged on the following criteria:

    o Creativity (if applicable)

         · Originality in subject, research question(s), approach , analysis, and interpretation

    o Approach

          · Thesis statement, problem statement and scope, research plan, ties to related and future work

    o Thoroughness

         · Completeness, including experimental replication and evidence-supported conclusions

    o Skill

         · Student skill, type and level of supervision, use of equipment

    o Clarity

         · Precision of purpose, procedures, and conclusions; orderly presentation of data, results, and conclusions; answers to oral questions

    o Abstract

         · Adequacy, clarity, conciseness

12. Each participant will be limited to 12 minutes for presentation, with 3 additional minutes for questions. Timekeepers will enforce both of these time limits strictly.

13. The research project must be under the direction of a member of the UNC-Charlotte graduate faculty.

14. Submission of an abstract implies that any required IRB or IACUC approval is complete.