June 3, 2016, by Lisa Chin
The Experience of Participating in the UNMC Research Showcase 2016
The Best Press Release and Overall Winner of the UNMC Research Showcase 2016, Lillian Joyce Among Olule, shares her experience and tips from the competition. Here is what she has to say…
One of my greatest fears in life is the regret of not living up to my full potential. This was in part what initially drove me to participate in the Research Showcase this year. The other driving factor was that I made a pact with two friends that whoever failed to submit an entry into the competition would have to buy lunch for the other two for a week so…
The first phase of the competition was to submit a press release. The Research Showcase is all about clearly communicating your research to a general audience. I used my mother as my test subject. After I explained it to her the first time, she asked me to explain it again, in English. So I went back to the drawing board. I also had great input and support from my supervisors, Dr Gnanam Gnanagurunathan and Dr Nandha Kumar whom I would like to thank profusely.
Lillian Joyce Among Olule, PhD candidate from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, with her poster titled “Using Your Wireless for Power!”.
The second phase was the poster design. Again my first attempt was dismal but thanks to the training conducted by Dr Tissa Chandesa and particularly Dr Jiin Woei Lee who painstakingly went over my design and gave pointers, I was able to improve my work with successive attempts.
The third phase was the video presentation. I wrote out key information that I wanted to highlight and practised. In retrospect, it is better to record yourself and watch it back and adjust your presentation accordingly. Thank you Ms Amirah, Ms Lisa and Ms Fazlin for patiently enduring all the retakes.
Lillian presented her poster, explained her research and its real world implications to the audience during the Research Showcase which was held on 27th April 2016.
The last phase was presenting to the judges and the general public. This was a little daunting at first but with successive presentations, I got more comfortable explaining my research. Interacting with the audience was quite fun and I got a couple of interesting ideas, questions and feedback. The experience was definitely an enriching one.
To summarise, my tips for future entrants would be:
- Keep it simple: Simplify as much as you can. Find everyday examples that can help explain things. However, consult your supervisor to see if your simplification is distorting the description of your research.
- Have a support system: Friends, family and God can help to keep you motivated and accountable.
- Practise, practise, practise: Enough said.
- Read the judging criteria: Frame your presentation around hitting all the key points they are looking out for.
- Lastly pray, attend the trainings, give it your best and have fun!
I will conclude by thanking the Graduate School for organising this event and with a quote from the book The monk who sold his Ferrari by Robin Sharma which will hopefully motivate you to take advantage of any opportunities you come across (like next year’s UNMC Research Showcase!). “Dare to dream that you are more than the sum of your current circumstances. Expect the best. You will be astonished at the results.”
Be inspired.
========
*Featured image – Lillian received the Overall Winner Award from one of the judges, Associate Professor Dr Tan Sai Hong, the Deputy Dean of Student Affairs, Learning Support, Alumni and Industrial Relation at the School of Graduate Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). More information on the UNMC Research Showcase 2016 is available at: https://blogs.nottingham.edu.my/postgraduate/2016/04/29/unmc-research-showcase-2016/
-
Post a comment
