Top 10: Mistakes People Make During Judging
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Alright well, you've read the technical sections that deal with stress, performance and presentation, board etiquette, proper research methods and various other tricks of the trade. But here's what you probably want and really need. A master list of the ten things you do not want, I repeat you do NOT want, to do during a judging interview.
#10: Being Too Casual
The actual day of judging can be nerve-racking. All of your work for the past few months comes down to this one day. It can be a lot of pressure. However, although it is a bad thing to be TOO casual, still relax. Try not to be overly tense. Your judges, believe it or not, are actually real people too.
Another thing: Dress nicely- try and look as sharp as possible. Tacky or slouchy attire does nothing to impress your judges.
#9: "Yeah, I don't really care about that..."
Do not neglect a judge’s suggestions, even if you strongly feel that they are not pertinent to the progress of your work. Instead, show your willingness to consider other opinions by writing down the comment, or taking note of what the judge is saying. Doing this physically, such as writing the question or comment on paper is much better than simply nodding your head and saying “I’ll look into that". Why? Because writing comments/suggestions on paper will show your judge that you sincerely will take his/her words into consideration. Of course, what you do with those comments after the judge leaves is entirely up to you.
#8: My Mommy/Mentor did this
Do not put the main focus on experiments that you did not conduct yourself or to which you only had a minor contribution. Unless that experiment was integral to your project, try to focus on other experiments that you did independently. Do not make it seem like you were guided by the hand throughout the whole research. As much as you MUST acknowledge the help and guidance of your mentors and the lab where you worked, you are still presenting without their help at the actual fair. Therefore, it is in your best interest to present yourself as a student who must learn new techniques but has the confidence and ability to conduct experiments independently.
N.B.: I'm not asking you to rule out any help from your mentors, but all judges admire a student who has taken initiative and worked through problems using their own heads!
#7: Disorganized Interviews
DO NOT PANIC WHILE YOU ARE BEING JUDGED!!
#6: Did you really say anything with that statement?
Do not make vague affirmations such as “I believe” or “In my opinion”; instead, try to base your statements on previous research or on the results of your own work (e.g. “Based on these results” or “According to previous studies”). Of course, if you are asked for your opinion on a given matter, it is strictly up to you as to how your phrase your response. However, when dealing with scientific conclusions, it is best to approach the situation like a seasoned academic and rely on the wonderful work that you and your fellow researchers have completed.
#5: "You clearly have heard of the TLA with the RFK in the ORRNT, right?"
Do not assume that your judge is familiar with the very technical terms in your project (e.g. referring to MFC in your project rather than indicating what it stands for (Microbial Fuel Cell) before). Your judges, as hard as it may be to believe, are human--they will be hesitant to get into the thick of your research if they are bombarded with fancy words and technical terms that are not used in conventional science textbooks. What I like to do, and what has always worked for me, is test the water: I use the term, and immediately ask "Are you familiar with the concept of..." or "Have you heard of this...". Sometimes the judge will smile knowingly and tell you that they've done their thesis on that concept or sometimes they will shake their heads and implore you to elaborate. Asking a question like that is not arrogant, as some participants may feel that questions such as that may insult the intelligence of their judges. This is not true.
#4: "And my work will bring about world peace..."
Do not make final, sweeping statements about your work (e.g. “This is the best method for testing…” or “This technique will be used to replace existing techniques in the near future). Granted, you may have some very convincing evidence that your research is groundbreaking, but scientific ethic demands that you refrain from glorifying your invention or discovery as the best available. In most cases, it is the general public that decides the popularity of a given invention or which discovery is the 'best'. In the future, if your research is being used worldwide and has indeed replaced all other competitors, then someone will hail that research as the best in its class. The furthest that you can go while being judged is to say the following: "To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time that this concept is being demonstrated..." or "As much as I have researched, I have not found similar discoveries in the past...".
#3: You argued with your judge?!?
Do not deliberately argue with your judge on topics that are controversial and very subjective (i.e. no right answer!). In fact do your best to avoid getting into discussions which could put you at odds with your judge, because although we hope that all judges are completely impartial, a judge who leaves your project frustrated and in disagreement may begin to view your academic merit and research ethic in the same light.
Examples of these subjects include but as most of you know are not limited to embryonic stem cell research, the validity of global warming, the governmental role of a given nation regarding scientific funding. If you do find yourself in a position where you have been directly asked a subjective question, it is better to take the 'optimistic-neutral' stance. For example, if John were asked: "Do you think governments in general are doing enough to prevent global warming?", John would be better off if he replied something to the effect of: "I believe that there is a global effort to reduce global warming and that governments play a critical role in this effort. However, as in any task, there is always room for improvement."
Even if your judge makes a remark about a certain issue on which you happen to have a strong opinion, refrain from making that opinion known--you may be inviting a judging interview that has nothing to do with your project.
Be tolerant and understanding. Impatience is HORRIBLE. Remember that it is the first time they are seeing your project. Don’t get frustrated if a judge doesn’t understand as aspect of your project. Don’t be alarmed if they interrupt you mid-way through your presentation and ask you to summarize in two sentences. It’s for the best.
#2. Not everybody knows everything
Do not think for one minute that your judges expect you to know the answer to every single one of their questions. Consequently, your judges ALWAYS expect you to give an appropriate answer to their questions--simply saying "I don't know" is far from appropriate, and furthermore reflects your lack of academic professionalism and respect for the judge. An appropriate answer in cases where you do know the answer is quite obvious. In situations where you have literally no idea what the answer would be, refrain from making up an answer to sound smart. In fact, judges ask questions not necessarily to test your knowledge but to determine if you can admit to not knowing something and endeavor to learn more. Remember that judges may already know the answer to the question they are asking--making up answers is too risky, to say the least. Instead, replying "I have not investigated this in my research so far, however I will try to find the answer to your question" or "I was unable to understand all the concepts that were used to answer this question, however I shall consult my mentor to find an explanation" will demonstrate your academic professionalism and willingness to learn more. Remember: You've gotten this far, you ARE intelligent. There is no need to pretend. At the same time, don’t rely too much on this lifeline. It's perfectly acceptable to ask a judge to rephrase their question. Alternatively, you could ask them a few questions to get the question more specific so that it might be easier to answer.
However, remember that no one knows more about your project than you. Judges may pretend to know everything about your topic, but ultimately you are the expert. You put the effort into the work, and the project is your work of art. Be proud and confident in the work you have done.
#1. Repeat after me: I will never do this
If for any reason you make every other mistake listed here, then be sure to never, under any circumstance commit this final and most grave error: never memorize your presentation. The reason I have chosen this as an error and as the worst is because a memorized presentation is much too rigid and cannot accomodate the various types of judges you will encounter. Judges are very keen and can recognized when a presentation has been memorized and rehearsed word for word. The memorization of a speech will subconsciously tense your nerves and cause you exponential amounts of stress if you happen to forget one line. Stress and tense nerves will increase the likelihood of making other mistakes, such as making up answers to cover for your stuttering and stammering, or jumping back and forth through concepts whenever you suddenly remember a line of your speech that you forgot to state.
However, what I believe is the worst thing about memorized speeches is the impression they give to your judges and peers: if you did your project and you analyzed your results, then shouldn't you be able to talk about it from the idea to its realization? The concepts you have used over and over in your experiments, then objectives and your hypotheses should be freely discussed as if they were second nature to you. Of course, we cannot remember the technical terms of certain bacterial species or the exact concentrations of our media, however this is what your poster is for. If a judge is interested in these details, using your board to remember a number or the exact pattern of a graph is just fine.
I have always followed the scientific method in my presentation, taking mental note of certain miletsones that I would cover, but the rest I made up along the way. Depending upon the academic focus of my judges or their interests, I tailored my presentation to uniquely pique their interest and to demonstrate the potential of my research in their field and of course, to fit their time schedule.
The Final Word
These errors are some I have selected in the course of my five years in science fair. They are not the only mistakes that can be committed, and they may not even feature on your own top 10 lists. However, if you do take these tips into consideration, you may find yourself more able to deliver what you expected from your project as well as what judges want. I have had a couple harsh judges over the years, but remember not to become discouraged . Be confident in yourself and in your project.
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