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Short Talks, Big Impact: Announcing a fast-paced competition for women scientists to present their research

February 10, 2025

In celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on 11 February 2025, OWSD is excited to announce the Short Talks, Big Impacts Women in Science Spotlight Competition. This live competition provides women scientists from around the world with a platform to showcase the significance of their research and its potential impact on local and global challenges.

The competition will take place in three regional sessions: Africa (21 February); Latin America and the Caribbean (28 February); and Asia and the Arab States (7 March). Each regional session will feature selected OWSD members presenting their research in a dynamic 3-minute format. These concise, impactful presentations will be followed by live audience voting. The top two presenters from each regional session will advance to the grand finale (14 March), where the global winner(s) will be chosen by a combination of public votes and an expert panel.

How It Works:

  • Regional Sessions: Women scientists from OWSD’s global membership will be selected to present their research in live webinars. The audience will vote for the most engaging and impactful presentation.
  • Grand Finale: The top two winners from each region will move on to the grand finale, which will be live-streamed globally. Here, both public voting and expert panelists will select the competition’s global winner(s).

Who Can Participate: The competition is open to all OWSD members. Women scientists, regardless of career stage, are encouraged to submit their research. This event is designed to highlight the importance of clear, accessible communication, and to celebrate the innovative contributions of women in science.

Application Process: OWSD members can apply by registering via the competition form. Participants will need to submit their research title, a brief description, and a photo. A selection committee will choose up to 15 participants per region, prioritizing geographical diversity and variety in research topics.

Judging Criteria:

  • Clarity and Accessibility: How well the research is communicated to a general audience in just 3 minutes.
  • Global Impact: How clearly the potential relevance of the research to addressing local or global issues is highlighted.
  • Engagement: The ability to captivate and connect with the audience.

How to apply: To learn more and register for the competition, click here. The application deadline is 18 February 2025.

How to watch: To watch the competition and vote for the winning presenters, please use the following links to register:

We also encourage you to explore the many other exciting events taking place within OWSD and across our National Chapters in celebration of International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

Click here to see all the events happening globally.

Join us in celebrating the power of women in science and the impact they continue to make on the world!

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