In the Researchers’ Grand Prix, researchers compete to present their research in the most understandable, captivating, and inspiring way in just 4 minutes. Researchers’ Grand Prix National heat is open to contestants from all over Sweden.
How can I participate?
The National heat accepts applications from May to June (13/5 – 30/6). The competition itself will take place on 10 October in Uppsala during SciFest. The participants will have their travel and accommodation covered to participate on site.
Before the competition, the competitors will be coached in presentation techniques and will be able to brainstorm how to think about their presentations. Here, you will gain knowledge and experience that will be of benefit to you long after the competition is over! Previous contestants have particularly appreciated this stage of the process.
The competition is open to anyone working with research in the public or private sector in Sweden (see rules).
How do you win?
The contestants are challenged to present their research in the most captivating, inspiring and educational way possible – in just four minutes!
The competition is about presenting your research in the most engaging, educational and easy-to-understand way possible, in just 4 minutes! It should be no more difficult than a high school student can understand the presentation.
The audience and expert judges jointly decide on the winners.
What do you win?
The winner gains a place in the final of the Researchers’ Grand Prix, which will take place in Stockholm. All competitors in the Researchers’ Grand Prix will receive coaching in presentation techniques from an experienced presentation coach.
You also win 20,000 SEK for educational purposes.
The jury evaluates the submitted presentations against three key criteria:
- Research – To what degree do you succeed in describing the scientific process (question, method, results, etc.)? Please note that this step is not evaluating the quality of your research.
- Insight & comprehension – To what degree do you manage to create drama in your presentation? Your use of language (easy/difficult words, vivid descriptions, etc.)?
- Performance – To what degree do you succeed in engaging the public through your body language, movement, voice, etc?
How to apply to participate in the Researchers’ Grand Prix national heat:
You can apply between 13 May – 30 June.
Apply in one of the following ways:
(Apply and ipload movie clip here)
Option A:
Record a video presenting yourself. We want to know:
• Who are you?
• What are you researching?
• Why do you want to compete in the Researchers’ Grand Prix?
Maximum 2 minutes.
Option B:
Record a draft version of the four minute presentation you would like to compete with. It does not have to be perfect! You will get help to improve your presentation if your application to participate in the contest is successful.
Maximum 4 minutes.
The quality of the video does not matter! We just need to be able to see and hear you. Presentations can be held in Swedish or English.
Submit your video no later than 30 June. Apply and upload movie clip here. You will be notified in August if your application to participate in the national heat has been successful.
ForskarFredag, the science festival that organises the Researchers’ Grand Prix, seeks to showcase the diversity of Swedish research and researchers. To reflect this, competitors will be selected based on their performance, personal profile and research field to ensure a wide range of researchers are represented in the competition.
If you get accepted to participate in the national heat:
Congratulations! First step complete… Now is the time to start working on your complete four minute presentation. To help you improve your presentation, you will be given an online session with a presentation coach. The coaching will take place for one hour between in August (scheduled in agreement with the coach).
Time to gather and practice for the stage performance! All participants gather and go through how the competition works during a rehearsal. The national heat will be held in Uppsala 10 October.
Showtime! You and the other contestants perform live in front of an audience and jury.
The audience votes and those of the jury will be combined into an average score. The contestant with the highest scores will be announced. For the winners, a place in the final (18 November in Stockholm) awaits!
The Researchers’ Grand Prix has been organised annually since 2012. The contest is supported by the research councils Formas, Forte, Vetenskapsrådet and organised by Vetenskap & Allmänhet.
Contact:
Julia Brink, Project Manager at Vetenskap & Allmänhet
