Poster Presentation & Elevator Speech Competition

• Poster competition: Each participating MD Anderson Summer Experience program will host individual poster viewing and poster competitions. Contact the summer program directly for details. 
• Elevator Speech competition: 
  • Any summer student appointed to one of the MD Anderson Summer Experience participating programs is eligible to register and audition for the Elevator Speech (ES) competition.   
    
  • Selected finalists will compete live at 11 a.m. CDT on Thursday, August 12 on Zoom.
    
  • The focus of the elevator speech is on communicating the significance of your work, rather than on reporting specific conclusive results.
  • Instructional workshops for creating elevator speeches will be offered (see Schedule: Timeline & Order of Events below).
  • Cash prizes will be Best Speech ($600) and People's Choice ($400).

Timeline

Summer Experience Final Event: Poster & Elevator Speech Competition (Order of Events)

• 9-11 a.m.: Poster viewing and individual program event (poster competition).   
  
• 11-11:30 a.m.: Elevator speech competition
  
• 11:30 a.m.-Noon: Intermission & Elevator speech judging
• Noon: Announcement of elevator speech winners & closing remark

• All summer abstracts and posters will be hosted in MD Anderson OpenWorks https://openworks.mdanderson.org/summerexperience/, an online repository for scholarship, including posters and abstracts. 
• Each abstract and poster will be assign a unique url DOI (Data Object Identifier) to reference on CVs, Resumes, professional websites (e.g., LinkedIn), and other digital media platforms. 

Abstract Submission

• Beginning in 2021, MD Anderson Summer Experience students will have their abstract featured in our annual digital collection in OpenWorks. This online 'book of abstracts' is a way to showcase the amazing cancer research conducted by SE interns and can be cited indefinitely.  
• Deadline: Friday, July 23, 2021
• Enter abstract details using the form at https://mdanderson.libwizard.com/f/summerexperienceabstracts. No file upload required. 
• Must list all authors. Each author must include institution affiliation. 
  
• Keyword limit: Less than 5
  
• Must be 400 words or less with following sub-headings:
  • Background
  • Methods
  • Results
  • Conclusion

Poster Submission

• Deadline: Friday, July 30, 2021
• To create your poster:
  1. Select one (1) MD Anderson Poster Title Banner which includes approved insitutional branding colors and logo.
  2. Design the remainder of your poster using the MD Anderson Standard Poster Template #1 or Expanded Poster Template #2.
• Must be saved and uploaded as an Adobe .pdf file. 
  
• Poster font must be Arial or Times New Roman. 
• Must be uploaded as an Adobe .pdf file. 
• Background color must be white. 
• There are no other requirements for the body of the poster. 
• See Poster and Elevator Speech resources above for actual posters submitted by MD Anderson students.  
• Submit your completed poster at https://openworks.mdanderson.org/cgi/ir_submit.cgi?context=sumexp21 by the deadline.

1. Commit to compete. Register by 11:59 p.m. CDT, Weds., July 28. All registrants will receive an invitation to upload their 90-second audition video to box. 
2. Attend the free optional workshops. Learn to create effective elevator speeches. Bring questions in advance and obtain handouts from a buddy or download materials from our box folder. See Schedule below.
3. Create your 90-second audition video using your tablet, laptop, camcorder, computer or smartphone. This is only a preliminary Elevator Speech. Acceptable video file formats are: 3g2, 3gp, avi, m2v, m4v, mov, mp4, mpeg, mpg and wmv. In this video, tell us about yourself and your summer research project. Be as creative (e.g. use props) and innovative as you wish. Video filename format: LastName,FirstName_ES.xxx. Example: Doe,Jane_ES.mp4
4. Upload your audition video to box by 11:59 p.m. CDT, Sun., Aug. 1. 
5. Find out if you're a finalist. Finalists will be notified via email by 5 p.m. CDT, Monday, Aug. 9. 
6. Rehearse your speech, 3-4pm CDT, Weds., Aug. 11 with Dr. Lisa Wigfall and other finalists. Be prepared to give and receive constructive feedback. 
7. Speak to compete live on Zoom at 11 a.m. CDT on Thursday, Aug. 12 for cash prizes: Best Speech ($200) and People's Choice ($100).

I am having trouble accessing the box folder for ES materials and workshop videos, what should I do?

All SE students should have received an invitation to the box folder at their personal email address (the same email address used to retrieve the Pre, Mid, and Post Summer Experience evaluation in Redcap). Please check your personal email inbox, otherwise, you should be able to access the box folder using your MD Anderson credentials as follows. 

1. From your laptop, mobile phone or tablet, navigate to https://mdacc.box.com/v/ESWorkshopMaterials
2. Select 'View on Box Mobile Site' (Do not open in Box app)
3. Select 'Use Single Sign On' (SSO)
4. Enter your MD Anderson email address
5. Click Login
6. Enter your MD Anderson password

I am unable to attend an ES workshop, but I can view the recording. May I still register for the ES competition?

ES Workshop attendance is not required to enter the competition, this includes viewing a recorded workshop. Workshop attendance is highly recommended for those who plan to enter the competition. 

I need more time to work on my abstract and poster, can the deadline be extended?

No. Please plan accordingly and submit the abstract and poster by 5 p.m. CDT of the deadline provided. 

I am a high school intern, but I'm not in an SE program, can I enter the competition?

Only MD Anderson Summer Experience students are eleigible to register and compete. 

My summer project is not complete. What should I do?

The abstract, poster or Elevator Speech does not require conclusive or complete results. Report your findings and future research objectives.

I registered for the ES competition, but what if I change my mind? 

Students who register for the competition are not obligated to upload an audition video. Registration signals our office that you are interested. If you decide not to enter the competion, do no upload an audition video.

What attire is required for the ES competition?

Please dress professionally (as if you were going on a job interview). Some options are suit jackets, ties, blouses, button-up shirts, and dresses. 

May I invite my family and friends to attend?

All SE students will receive an Outlook calendar invitation to the ES competition and may share the link with family and friends. 

I am unable to attend both ES workshops. Will someone send me workshop materials?

No. It is the student's responsibility to visit our MD Anderson box folder at https://mdacc.box.com/v/ESWorkshopMaterials (within 24 hours of the workshop) to download handouts, presentation slides, and recorded videos. Web links for recorded Zoom workshops are accessible only within the MD Anderson network. Links are not viewable externally.  

My SE program is having a final oral presentation event for our division. I was told that we will have to give an Elevator Speech for this event. Do I need to attend the ES workshop (I don't plan to enter the ES competition)?

Some of the participating Summer Experience programs may host their own final presentation event for their students. Please consult your SE program manager to determine what type of oral presentation is required for your program's event and if ES workshop is required.

Why do I need to change the filename for my Elevator Speech audition video?

We need to know who the video belongs to. Simply rename the video filename using the format: LastName,FirstName_ES.xxx . Example: Doe,Jane_ES.mp4. Files without the appropriate file name format will be disqualified. 

What are the prize amounts for the Scientific Poster and Elevator Speech?

Awards for Scientific Posters and Elevator Speech Competition will be in cash and sent via U.S. mail in a paper check or direct deposit usually within 14 calendar days of the event. Scientific Poster awards will be distributed by each summer program. Please consult your summer program manager for the poster prize criteria and award amounts.

Elevator speech prize amounts are $600 for Best Speech and $400 for People's Choice. A panel of judges will select the Best Speech Award and the audience will participate in an electronic poll to select People's Choice Award. 

Who will be invited to the Elevator Speech Competition?

All SE programs are invited to the ES competition. Individual programs should forward the announcement/invitation to the mentors and support staff of their students. If you plan to enter the competition, it is your responsibility to inform your program, department, mentor, and colleagues. You may also forward the Zoom link/calendar invitation to your family or friends. Please do not post MDA Zoom links on social media or any websites. 

Can a student win both Best Speech & People's Choice awards?

Yes.

I am an ES finalist, may I submit a recorded video for the final event?

No. ES finalists will compete live on Zoom. 

Poster Presentation

Nancy Strange (competition and event questions)
Program Coordinator
Education and Training
713-792-2552
NDStrange@mdanderson.org

Marites P. Melancon, Ph.D. (content questions)
Program Director, Summer Experience Program
Associate Professor, Interventional Radiology
713-794-5387
MMelancon@mdanderson.org

Chandra Bartholomeusz, Ph.D. (content questions)
Associate Director, Summer Experience Program
Associate Professor, Breast Medical Oncology
713-745-1086
CHBartho@mdanderson.org