Guidelines & how to apply

No-Bell Prize guidelines

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Competition format

Eligible applicants will submit a 90-second video, with the top presenters progressing to the No-Bell Prize Final. In the final, participants will:

• Present for 90 seconds
• Answer one minute of questions from the audience
• Respond to three minutes of questions from the host.

This comprises a total of five minutes and 30 seconds per finalist.

During the presentation, a panel will note each time they hear jargon, such as language which is too technical or acronyms that are not widely understood.  An official will keep time and count the number of notes per speaker. The participant with the fewest notes during their presentation and the highest score from the panel will be the winner.

Participants who progress to the final will be competing for cash prizes, including:

• $1,000 for the No-Bell Prize winner
• $500 each for the two runners-up
• A People's Choice Award of $500.

Eligibility

The competition is open to students who are currently enrolled in an eligible graduate research degree (PhD, Master of Philosophy, Masters of Research, Doctor of Medical Science) within the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences.

Application process

To compete, applicants must register and submit a video as detailed below. Submissions will be assessed in line with judging criteria. These videos will be used by the selection panel to select the finalists and will not be made available outside of this process.

• Attend communications workshop (optional): All students are encouraged to attend a communications skills workshop to develop their research-related communication and presentation skills. This will be held on 7 July, prior to submissions opening.
• Register and submit a video by the deadline (11:55pm, 26 July) via the No-Bell Prize application form.
• Video assessment: Submissions will be assessed by a selection panel, based on the judging criteria below. The highest-ranked videos will be selected to compete in the final. Applicants will be notified mid-August.
• Final event: The selected finalists will receive tailored coaching on 27 or 28 August, and compete in the final on 1 October, 2:00-4:30pm.

Recording guidelines

Guidelines for submitted videos:

• The 90 second video should focus on one study, one result or an overview of a whole research project.
• The decision of the selection panel is final.
• Content delivered after the 90 second mark will not be considered by the selection panel.
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through speech. The audio must be continuous, with no sound edits or breaks.
• Applicants must ensure they are clearly visible and the audio is clear. Audio-only entries are not permitted.
• No slides or props (like costumes or lab equipment) are to be used. No additional electronic media (eg, sound or video files) are permitted within the video recording.
• Submissions must be made via a video format. Files submitted in other formats will not be accepted.
• Submissions should be no larger than 1 GB. Larger files will not be accepted by the form.
• Applicants will not be judged on video/recording quality or editing capabilities; rather, submissions will be assessed on content based on the judging criteria below.

Judging criteria

Comprehension and content:

• The presentation provided clear research context, significance and potential impact.
• The presentation followed a clear and logical sequence.

Engagement and communication:

• The presentation was delivered clearly and the language used was appropriate for a non-specialist audience.
• The speaker had sufficient ‘stage presence’, eye contact and vocal range; the speaker maintained a steady pace and had a confident stance.
• The speaker avoided scientific jargon, explained terminology and provided adequate background information to illustrate points.
• The presenter conveyed enthusiasm for their research, and captured and maintained the audience’s attention.

Presenting in the final competition

If selected to present in the No Bell Prize final, you will be asked to present your research in person for five minutes 30 seconds, which includes 90 seconds to introduce your research, three minutes of questions from the host, and one minute of questions from the audience. You must not use slides or other props.

If you progress to the final, you will also be offered two additional seats at the No-Bell Prize event for anyone you would like to invite to support you on the day.

Resources

You can find some tips on recording your presentation here (noting that your video submissions will not include a slide).