JUDGING
Judgment … the moment that some people dread! Do not worry, here you will find all the elements to be ready to welcome the judges. Above all, always keep in mind that judges are passionate science and techno volunteers who discover your projects with pleasure!
Please note that, for the time being, judging takes place online at least one week before the Hydro-Québec Science Fair provincial finals. It takes place in person for the regional finals.
Alumni have agreed to share tips to pass through the judgment as pros!
1. Everything is a matter of practice!
Allow time to practice your presentation and coordinate with your team member if you present as a duet. You will feel more comfortable from the start.
2. Target what counts
For example, in an experimentation project, judgment is made more on the criteria for analysis and discussion. Pay attention to the scientific method, since it reflects the value of your experience. It is certain that all the steps are important, but we must make choices!
3. Use your time wisely
During the regional secondary/college finals and the Quebec finals, you will have five 15-minute periods with five different judges. During these 15 minutes, you must present your project for approximately 10 minutes and allow approximately 5 minutes for the judge to ask you questions.
For the regional elementary school finals, you will have three 15-minute periods with three different judges.
Quickly present the origin of your project idea. This is easy for you and helps the judge relax at the start! Quickly gloss over the procedures, but don’t hold back on telling everything! Focus the bulk of your presentation on your experimental approach, analysis, and the significance of your experiment. You can always come back to the procedures later. Did you try and retry your experiments in several ways? Mention it, but don’t dwell on the details.
4. Interact with the judge
The judge does not ask you any questions? Why not ask him? Ask him to anticipate the next step for example. We recommend that you find a balance between an overly familiar contact and an approach that is too distant.
5. Look after appearances!
Another advice, even if it is very far from being a decisive criterion, prepare well the visual of your stand. Here, we are not talking about spending a lot of money to have fully digitized signs. You can definitely make a good impression with good “old fashioned” posters! Be attentive to the elements you place on your posters: relevant images and graphics and all the elements that you can rely on to present your project.
6. Be brief
Did you need less than 15 minutes to complete your presentation and answer the judge’s questions? Do not worry. Presentations last 15 minutes maximum, not 30 minutes minimum. Do not be afraid to see your judge leave after 10 minutes, and enjoy the break instead.
Criteria
When presenting your project, you want to know what judges will evaluate when they come to see you! Here are the main criteria used and the percentage attributed to them:
