Virtual Project Format

Format Requirements:

The project presentation replaces the project poster used during in-person fairs.  The format of the presentation will follow the guidelines used by the Virtual ISEF 2022.  Complete details including formatting requirements are available in the   ProjectBoard- Virtual Display Guidelines 2022.  The project presentation will consist of three required parts and may include three optional parts.

  • REQUIRED:
    • Project Presentation PDF file 
    • A Quad Chart
    • Project Video for public viewing.
  • OPTIONAL:
    • Video Demonstration/Simulation
    • Research Paper
    • Lab Notebook Excerpts.

 

Project Presentation PDF file

You may prepare your Project Presentation using any software tools that you desire, but the final document submitted for display to the judges and the public must be a PDF file and satisfy the following requirements.

Format Requirements:

  1. A single PDF document limited to no more than 12 pages in standard 8½”X11”.   
  2. Pages should be created in Landscape mode so that the entire page is visible at the same time.
  3. Your pages must be without animation or active hyperlinks.
  4. The page background color must be a light color and should not affect readability.
  5. Text color must be predominately dark to support readability.
  6. All text should be readable easily when viewing the entire page at once. The smallest allowable font size of body text is 14 pt and an 18 pt font is recommended.  Exception: You may use a smaller font size, down to 10 pt., for figure captions or photo credits.
  7. All Project Presentation elements must conform to Display & Safety rules as if placed on a physical poster for display to judges and the public. Passing a Display & Safety inspection will be required to compete.

Format Recommendations:

  1. Do not use non-standard fonts or colors to “stand out from the crowd” or to be entertaining. It is recommended that you use a font such as Arial, Calibri, Helvetica or Century Gothic.  
  2. Page titles should all be the same size. That size should be larger than headings within each page. In turn, headings should be larger than body text. 
  3. Avoid long expository paragraphs. State your points succinctly.
  4. Use bullets to set out individual points of interest. Use numbered lists when the ordering of points of interest is important (e.g., instructions to be followed in order, or items needing a reference anchor for citation elsewhere in your Presentation).
  5. All body text should adopt a common font style and size. Similarly, all heading text should adopt a common font style and size. There is no recommendation for the style and size relation between body and heading text.

See ProjectBoard- Virtual Display Guidelines 2022for suggestions on information to contain in the PDF File and additional formatting recommendations.

 

Quad Chart

A “quad chart” is a single page divided into four quadrants providing a high-level summary of the project. It is intended to be more visual than detailed in order to quickly introduce your judges to what is important about your project. 

Format Requirements:

  1. The page should be created so that the entire page is visible at the same time. The page should be created in Landscape mode.
  2. The page background color should be a light color and text color predominantly dark to support readability.
  3.  The minimum allowable font size is 14 pt. and larger fonts are encouraged for readability. Exception: You may use a smaller font size, down to 10 pt., for figure captions or photo credits.
  4.  Text should be in list or bulleted form and as brief as possible. This chart is intended as a high-level summary that can be read at-a-glance.
  5.  All four quadrants of your Quad Chart should each be the same size with a single border line delimiting each, as in the examples below.
  6. The Title section should be only tall enough to include the required elements which are the same as the abstract header. The project title should be at the largest header size of the document for easy identification of the project. (See section on Quad Chart Title).
  7. The Quad Chart should include all appropriate photo credits, should not include a bibliography, references, or acknowledgments and must adhere to all Display & Safety rules. 

Here is a template for the Quad Chart:  QuadForm

 

Sections of the Quad Chart:

  • Quad Chart Title:

    • In the upper right-hand corner, leave a space for the Project ID
    • Line one is the title of your project
    • Line two is your name, school, city, state, country

  • Quadrant 1: Research Question/Engineering Objectives

    • This should reflect material in #2 of the Project Presentation Template.
    • Please state the research question or engineering problem being addressed
    • A leading core graphic or visual is encouraged, but not required.

  • Quadrant 2: Methodology/Project Design

    • This should reflect material in #3 of the Project Presentation Template.
    • Please provide a succinct, bulleted summary of the methodology/project design

  • Quadrant 3: Data Analysis & Results

    • This should reflect material in #4 and 5 of the Project Presentation Template.
    • It is advised that this quadrant should primarily be a graphic representation of relevant data and results.
    • Text should be kept to a minimum.

  • Quadrant 4: Interpretation & Conclusions

    • This should reflect material in #5 and # 6 of the Project Presentation Template.

 

Project Video

Record a video (maximum duration 2 minutes) explaining your project. The target audience for this video is members of the general public who will visit the virtual fair.   While judges will have access to this video, it will not be the focus of their project review. This video must comply with all Display & Safety Rules, particularly those involving logos, acknowledgements and properly crediting images/graphs/photos.

What to include in your video:

  1. Introduce Yourself: State your full name and your school.  Rather than reciting your project title, consider explaining your project in a single sentence.
  2. Explain Your Project: Summarize your research into main points:
    • What did you do?
    •  What did you find?
    • What conclusions did you draw?

 

  •  Videos can either be submitted directly to SJRSEF website or you can embed a YouTube video. The YouTube link will need to be public, but it is not required that it be listed. It is recommended that the video be named the project short title. If uploading directly, videos must be less than 200 MB in size.
  • We encourage you to be prominently displayed in the video (as opposed to having the video be prominently your slides).
  • You can use any props or visuals you may have that are within the Display & Safety guidelines.
  •  Do not include anyone in your video other than the student researchers of the project.

Best Practices for Filming:

These videos will not be edited. To ensure your video is the best representation of your work, please keep these best practices in mind while filming:
 Film yourself in a well-lit and non-distracting environment so the viewer’s focus stays on you and your
work.

  • For best results, film your video horizontally (landscape).
  • Keep the camera still and in place during filming.
  • Speak clearly and loudly enough that the recording is able to pick up every word you say.
  • Avoid long pauses.
  •  Listen to your video after recording to ensure your voice is clear and audible, and that the video has not picked up too much background noise.
  • Confirm the size of the video is less than 200 MB

 

 

Optional Video Demonstration (1 minute maximum)

If a project is best explained by showing a demonstration, simulation or animation, you may include a short video, no longer than 1 minute.

 

Optional Research Paper

SJRSEF does not require any project to include a research paper. However, many participants have completed such a paper through the research process and would include it at their booth during an in person fair. If you have prepared such a paper, you may upload it to share with judges, though judges are not required to review it.   This may be the same paper that you have submitted to the NMJAS Paper Competition.

 

Optional Lab Notebook Image/Excerpt

SJRSEF does not require any project to submit a laboratory notebook. However, many participants have this record of their research timeline and process and typically have it available at their booth. A student may upload a PDF of up to 4 pages of a lab notebook to provide evidence of its use, but it is strongly advised NOT to share the notebook in totality to protect your intellectual property.