UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT PAPER COMPETITION

MIDWESTERN SECTION, AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANIMAL SCIENCE

MIDWEST BRANCH, AMERICAN DAIRY

SCIENCE ASSOCIATION

Approved July 30, 1986

Amended July 1988, September 1992, September

1993, August 1997, March 1999 and March 2007

Purpose

The purpose of the Undergraduate Student Paper Competition is to provide an opportunity for undergraduate students to gain experience in reviewing, discovering, and presenting scientific information in a scholarly manner on a topic of current importance and interest to the animal industry.

Rules and Regulations

1. Contestants must be enrolled as an undergraduate student in an institution within the Midwest ASAS Section or ADSA Branch which offers a baccalaureate degree in Agriculture at the time of abstract submission.

2. There is no limit as to the number of students that can participate from one college/university.

3. The appropriate box indicating undergraduate student paper competition must be marked at the time of electronic submission and the abstract must be submitted by October 25, 2006 11:59 pm...

4. The project supervisor's name should be included as an author on the paper.

5. A copy of the submitted abstract and the tracking number must be received by Dr. Catherine W. Ernst, Michigan State University, 3385 Anthony Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824-1225; fax 517-432-0753 no later than October 31, 2006.    

6. Competitors must upload their presentations to the FASS Abstract System by Monday March 12, 2007.

7. Students are required to attend the Awards Breakfast on Wednesday March 21, 2007.  .

Subject Matter

The paper must include original research in which the student was involved at a level appropriate for an undergraduate student.

Location and Setting

1. Papers will be presented at the Midwest ASAS/ADSA Annual Meeting in the appropriate topic section.

Time Limit

1. The oral presentation must be a minimum of nine (9) minutes in length and a maximum of twelve (12) minutes.

2. At the completion of each paper, there will be questions from the audience and/or judges.

3. Total time for the oral presentation and the discussion should not exceed fifteen (15) minutes.

Visual Aids

1. PowerPoint slides may depict data, graphs, illustrations, or any other material that might enhance the oral presentation.

2. LCD units, projection screen, and a pointer are provided.

Procedure for Entering

1. An abstract of the paper with title and name(s) of author(s) etc. must be submitted electronically like all other abstracts.  The abstract should be prepared according to the format used for abstracts of scientific papers and submitted no later than October 25, 2006.  In addition, a printed copy of the electronic submission and tracking number must be received by Dr. Catherine W. Ernst, Michigan State University, 3385 Anthony Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824-1225; fax 517-432-0753 no later than October 31, 2006.  The abstracts will be circulated to the judging committee prior to the competition. Abstracts that have been evaluated and rejected by the section chair cannot be revised and re-submitted as a competitive paper by the author.

2. Entrants in the Undergraduate Student Paper Competition will be denoted in the Midwest annual meeting program booklet.

3. In the case of multiple-author presentations, in the abstract designate the presenter's name with an asterisk (*).

4. There is no limit on the number of undergraduates from one institution presenting undergraduate research papers.

Evaluation

1. The presentation will be scored by three or more judges, as arranged by the Committee.

2. Each judge will evaluate each presentation individually according to the following criteria:

a. Abstract 10 pts.

b. Knowledge of subject 25 pts.

c. Subject matter 20 pts.

d. Organization 15 pts.

e. Presentation & person attributes 15 pts.

f. Visuals 15 pts.

Awards

1. Cash awards will be presented to the three entrants (individuals or groups receiving the highest point totals: first, $300; second, $200; and third, $100).

2. Winners will be announced and cash awards presented at the Midwest ASAS/ADSA Annual Awards and Business Meeting.

Plaques will be presented to the three entrants (individuals or groups receiving the highest point totals) after the meeting