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In a realm increasingly influenced by science and technology, the capability to articulate research outcomes and underscore their significance is essential.

Understanding that effective communication can enhance the reach of research, the Student-Faculty Programs (SFP) Office recently organized a trio of communication contests to celebrate undergraduate excellence in scientific discourse through poster displays, oral presentations, and technical writing. The contests, supported by benefactors of the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) program, intend to assist students in honing crucial abilities for presenting research to varied audiences.

“These contests motivate undergraduate researchers to aim for excellence in conveying their findings,” remarks Candace Rypisi, assistant vice provost and director of Student-Faculty Programs. By emphasizing student involvement and achievement, SFP strives to guarantee that every student possesses the resources and assistance necessary to make significant contributions to science and society. “Now, more than ever, the ability to communicate one’s science is vital in numerous aspects.”

Together, the contests—the Gee Family SURF Poster Competition, Doris S. Perpall SURF Speaking Competition, and Joel and Marcella Bonsall SURF Technical Writing Competition—offer students a platform to exhibit their work to faculty evaluators and an engaged campus audience.

Gee Family SURF Poster Competition

The Gee Family SURF Poster Competition, funded by John (BS ’53) and Barbara Gee, showcases outstanding poster displays, prioritizing clarity and organization over research importance. Participants are required to effectively communicate technical information to a general scientific audience, followed by faculty judges assessing the posters on content, design, and verbal delivery.

This year’s honorees (in no particular order) are:

• Ai-Dan Le (Ray F. Jurgens SURF Fellow), guided by Murray Brightman (NuSTAR Science Operations, operations specialist)
• Kieran Vlahakis (J. Weldon Green SURF Fellow), mentored by Oscar Bruno (professor of applied and computational mathematics) and Manuel Santana (graduate student in applied and computational mathematics)
• Keyu (Sophia) Wan (DaRin Butz SURF Fellow), advised by Aaron Ames (Bren Professor of Mechanical and Civil Engineering and Control and Dynamical Systems) and Kejun Li (graduate student in computation and neural systems)

Evaluating the competition were faculty members Kayane Dingilian (lecturer of chemistry and chemical engineering), George Djorgovski (professor of astronomy and data science), Franca Hoffmann (assistant professor of computing and mathematical sciences), and Joseph Shepherd (C.L. “Kelly” Johnson Professor of Aeronautics and Mechanical Engineering).

Doris S. Perpall SURF Speaking Competition

Founded by Robert C. Perpall (BS ’52, MS ’56) in memory of his late wife, the Doris S. Perpall SURF Speaking Competition promotes excellence in verbal communication. Initiated in 1993, the competition has evolved into a key occasion for Caltech students to enhance their public speaking skills.

From 194 student presenters this academic year, six finalists progressed to the culminating round. Faculty and professional judges evaluated clarity, presentation style, and audience engagement.

This year’s victors are:

• First Place: Ishita Mathur, mentored by Pablo Moscato (professor of data science, The University of Newcastle, Australia) and Shinsuke Shimojo (Gertrude Baltimore Professor of Experimental Psychology)
• Second Place: Virginia H. (Gigi) Pistilli, guided by Ingibjörg Svala Jónsdóttir (professor of ecology, University of Iceland) and Bastien C. Papinot (graduate student in life and environmental sciences, University of Iceland)
• Third Place: Kai L. Svenson, mentored by Maria Spiropulu (Shang-Yi Ch’en Professor of Physics)

Judging this year’s event were Harriet Brettle (executive director, Keck Institute for Space Studies), Niles Pierce (MacArthur Professor of Applied and Computational Mathematics and Bioengineering and executive officer for biology and biological engineering), and Linda Ye (Assistant Professor of Physics).

Joel and Marcella Bonsall SURF Technical Writing Competition

The Joel and Marcella Bonsall SURF Technical Writing Competition, established in 1997 by Marcella Bonsall, honors excellence in technical writing among senior SURF participants. Final reports were assessed for clarity, succinctness, and relevance within their respective fields of research.

This year’s distinguished winners include:

• First Place: Sydney Vernon, mentored by Tapio Schneider (Theodore Y. Wu Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering), Ronak Patel (graduate student in environmental science and engineering), and Dave Bonan (CICOES Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Washington)
• Second Place: Rohan Kolhe, mentored by David Anderson (Seymour Benzer Professor of Biology; Leadership Chair and director of the Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience; Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute) and Aditya Nair (postdoctoral scholar, biology and biological engineering)
• Third Place: Brayden Noh, mentored by Michael Lamb (professor of geology) and Kim Miller (laboratory manager)

Caltech’s SURF Communication Competitions continue to act as a venue for students to refine their capacity to turn intricate research into understandable narratives—empowering students with the expertise to not only conduct pioneering research but also share their insights with the world.

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