The University of Kentucky Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) named its ten finalists in the 5-Minute Fast Track Competition last week. Among those, were Sydney Chapman, a senior, majoring in computer science and Ashbey Manning, a senior, majoring in chemical engineering.
On Oct. 26, finalists, competing for cash prizes awarded to the top three, presented their research in five minutes in front of a panel of judges and a live audience using a single static slide. The event challenges students to develop their academic, presentation and research communication skills, while also allowing them to showcase their research in a captivating way.
Chapman, who was mentored by UK Alumni Professor Brent Seales in the Department of Computer Science, presented “Virtual Unwrapping of Ancient Scrolls” and Manning, mentored by Brittany Givens, assistant professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, presented “Utilizing Polymers for Advanced Drug Delivery.”
Manning’s presentation earned her second place in the competition and a $500 award.
Now in its fifth year, 5-Minute Fast Track aims to improve undergraduate students’ abilities to communicate their research effectively to a general non-specialist audience while creating a compelling story about their scholarly work.
For more information, visit https://our.uky.edu/5-minute-fast-track.