Student researchers are rarely trained to explain their work
to a general audience but must do so throughout their
careers. To assist undergraduate researchers in building
this skill, the Student Research Showdown—a research
video and presentation competition—was created at the
University of Texas at Austin. Students create brief videos
on which their peers vote, and the top video creators face
off with presentations and are awarded prizes by a panel
of judges. Students reflect on their experiential learning as
they construct a narrative that disseminates their findings,
communicates impact, and serves as a sharable testament
to their success. Indirect measures indicate that students
improve their research communication skills by participating
in this event.Undergraduate Studie
