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Best Presentation by a Young Scientist

The objective of this award is to encourage a high standard of presentation at the annual Congress by adjudicating and rewarding the best presentation by a young scientist.

News Item Best Presentation by a YounScientist 2012
Pieter Swanepoel - “Establishing baseline values for soil quality indicators in the southern Cape”
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Eligibility

Young scientists are the only persons eligible for this award, and such person must have specifically entered their presentation before the start of the Congress to be considered for the award. A young scientist must qualify by conforming to at least one of the following conditions at the start of the Congress:

  1. Under the age of 35 at the date of the Congress, or
  2. Seven or less presentations at prestigious scientific meetings, or
  3. Seven or less years’ work in the respective discipline, associated with their presentation.
Criteria
  1. Audibility and clarity of expression: This refers to the extent to which the entire audience can hear and understand what the presenter is saying. It includes the manner, tone, volume, speed and clarity of speech, and their variation to capture and retain the interest and attention of the audience. Appropriate use of hand and body language must be included in judging this point.
  2. Visual contact with the audience: This is adjudicated on the extent to which the manner and success of the presenter feature in establishing and maintaining visual contact with the audience. The presenter must look at, and talk to, the audience, and ensure that the audience’s attention is focussed on him/her.
  3. Logical sequence of ideas: This covers the flow of thought in the presentation and the extent to which this is logical and used to enhance the communication of the message to the audience. This covers the logical sequence from beginning to end.
  4. Quality and use of visual aids: In addition to the quality of the visual aids, of equal importance in adjudicating this point is the proficiency of use of the aids, and the extent to which they are used as an aid to support and enhance the presentation. The flashiness of the aids should not overpower or dominate the presentation to the detriment of communicating the message. A presentation must be remembered for what as communicated and not what aids were used.
  5. Appropriate use of time: This refers to the extent to which the presentation is delivered within the time limit and is not rushed, drawn out or truncated.
  6. Strength, value, impact of presentation and concluding statements: This covers the overall impression of the presentation in terms of strength and impact, and the appropriateness and memorability of the concluding statements. The value to the discipline of the presentation and concluding statements should also be included in adjudicating this point.