Three walnuts, one cracked open, with a dark blue background and scientific elements scattered throughout the photo.

The sex lives of lobsters, family communication via group chats, the interactions of brain cells, and protective gear for construction workers: all these and many more have been topics of Nutshell Games talks. 

    What’s your research specialty? How well can you present it to a non-scientific audience? What if we add a 90-second limit to the requirements? In the annual Nutshell Games, graduate students are challenged to convey their research quickly, concisely, and – most importantly – engagingly!

    Hosted by Virginia Tech’s Center for Communicating Science, the seventh annual Nutshell Games will take place on Wednesday, February 8, at 5:30 p.m. A preparatory workshop for presenters and alternates will be held Tuesday, January 31, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Interested students should register as soon as possible. Only 30 students will have the opportunity to give a talk. Registration opens Monday, December 12. Virginia Tech graduate students who wish to compete may register at this link: https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/t/AW1B5ZvzrX.

    This popular public event, held at the Moss Arts Center, includes prizes for the top five presenters. After giving their 90-second presentations, participants are ranked by our diverse panel of judges including campus representatives, community partners, and a courageous seventh grader. Winners will receive $500 each in professional development funds, which can be used to support travel and research equipment and supplies. 

The Rules:

  • Have fun with it! 

  • Your presentation must be 90 seconds maximum. Presentations longer than 90 seconds will be disqualified. A timer at the back of the hall will be visible to you. 

  • No PowerPoint slides or additional electronic media (e.g., sound or video files) are permitted. One prop or visual aid is permitted (e.g., a piece of lab equipment or large photograph). Your costume (the clothes you choose to wear) will not count as a prop.

  • You must speak in prose! No songs, poems, raps, etc. 

  • The judges' decision is final. 

Judging Criteria:

  • Did the presenter make a connection with the audience?

  • Did the presenter communicate the importance of the research?

  • Was the research accessible to a non-specialist?

  • Did the presenter capture and keep their audience's attention?

  • Did the presenter convey enthusiasm or other emotion related to the research?

  • Did the presenter convey a sense of confidence?

  • Did the presentation make the audience want to know more?

    The first Nutshell Games was held as part of the opening celebration for the Center for Communicating Science in the spring of 2017. Since then, the event has been held in collaboration with Virginia Tech’s annual Science Festival or as part of the graduate student-organized ComSciCon-VA Tech, communicating science workshops for graduate students. This year’s event coincides with ComSciCon, which will be held as a series of evening online workshops held the week of February 6. Graduate students, mark your calendars and be on the lookout for registration information for ComSciCon.

    Examples of Nutshell Games presentations from prior competitions can be found on the Center for Communicating Science Youtube channel.

By Quinn Richards, Center for Communicating Science graduate assistant