woman pointing and explaining poster to audience

How to participate in OSPA

Sign up to Participate as a Student Presenter

OSPA Student Sign-up and Requirements

Student presenters at AGU24 are not automatically signed up to participate in OSPA. Students who wish to participate in OSPA must sign up for the program when submitting their abstract for AGU24.  

All OSPA student presenters are required to:

  • upload a digital version of their presentation in the online OSPA portal.

  • to act as a reviewer and evaluate at least one other OSPA presenter at AGU24,

    • You may not review your own presentation. You are not assigned a presentation - you will select the presentation you want to review. Review the rubric for OSPA here.

  • to present at the day/time assigned to you, and

  • to respond to communications (virtual or in-person) from OSPA reviewers.

Return to OSPA homepage.

AGU student members pursuing a high school, undergraduate, master’s, or doctorate degree at the time of the meeting are eligible to participate. Postdoctoral researchers are not eligible. You must also be the lead author of the abstract presented. 

NEW: For AGU24, students must sign up for OSPA when submitting their abstract.

AGU recognizes that feedback from the community is important for students to better their presentation skills. Students will be contacted in February to view presentation feedback and to be notified about potential awards.

  • Presentations will be evaluated by up to three reviewers. AGU and OSPA volunteers work diligently to recruit enough volunteers to evaluate student presentations. AGU encourages students to remind attendees that they are presenting in OSPA and that they would like feedback in the OSPA portal. 
  • Reviewers may submit questions to students via the online OSPA portal. Students are expected to respond to questions as they are asked. 
  • At the meeting, many judges prefer to stay anonymous during your presentation. All feedback will be sent back to students anonymously. 
 

Reviewers will evaluate student presentations in the following areas: 

  • Scientific Approach: Demonstration of scientific reasoning; Appropriateness of instrumentation, data, and/or analysis techniques to address the science question; Strength and supportability of conclusions and/or next steps
  • Presentation Effectiveness: Effective use of allotted time or space to convey important information; Appropriateness of presentation to audience level and interests
  • Presentation Visuals: Figures, tables, and graphics aid in comprehension of procedures and results; Materials are clearly visible and readable for the audience
  • Additional Feedback: Feedback on the student’s understanding of the broader context of their work; Three strengths of the presentation; One to three areas for improvement
The full OSPA rubric is available here.

OSPA Student Orientations coming later this year!

OSPA reviewer information

AGU needs volunteers like you to provide feedback to student presenters. Many AGU students will remember their OSPA experience fondly thanks to the generosity of reviewers.

Reviewer Eligibility and Expectations

  • All AGU24 attendees (including students!) are eligible to serve as an OSPA reviewer.

  • Reviewers are required to complete an evaluation for each of the presentations they have signed up to review. 

  • Reviewers are encouraged to remain anonymous at the meeting – feedback submitted via the OSPA portal will be shared anonymously.

  • Reviewers are not allowed to evaluate students from their own institution or with whom they are acquainted.

  • Reviewers are encouraged to read the Reviewer Feedback Guidance document.

Volunteer to review at AGU24
 You may indicate your interest in volunteering when submitting your abstract for AGU24. More details will be available on this page closer to the Annual Meeting.

 Reviewer Resources

Return to OSPA homepage.

Reviewing process

Whether evaluating an oral or poster, an in-person or virtual presentation, the reviewer must adhere to the following requirements:

  • Reviewers are not allowed to evaluate students from their institution or students they are acquainted with.
  • AGU will provide resources on how to provide constructive feedback for OSPA reviewers to read before submitting evaluations. 
  • If a reviewer cannot review a presentation that they signed up for, it is that reviewer’s responsibility for finding a substitute. Ask a colleague or friend. Please note: all presentations will have a virtual component that can be used for evaluation in the case that you missed the in-person presentation.
Reviewers are encouraged to remain anonymous at the meeting – feedback submitted via the OSPA portal will be shared with the students anonymously. 
woman explaining to woman her poster

Reviewing criteria

OSPA reviewers will offer helpful feedback to students on the following areas of their presentations:

  • Scientific Approach: Demonstration of scientific reasoning; Appropriateness of instrumentation, data, and/or analysis techniques to address the science question; Strength and supportability of conclusions and/or next steps
  • Presentation Effectiveness: Effective use of allotted time or space to convey important information; Appropriateness of presentation to audience level and interests
  • Presentation Visuals: Figures, tables, and graphics aid in comprehension of procedures and results; Materials are clearly visible and readable for the audience
  • Additional Feedback: Feedback on the student’s understanding of the broader context of their work; Three strengths of the presentation; One to three areas for improvement

Presentations will be evaluated by up to three reviewers in an effort to ensure impartiality.

 
Woman explains poster to another woman attendee

Reviewer Resources

OSPA Feedback Support and Orientations

Orientation sessions coming later this year!

 

 
Colorful laptop open

OSPA Liaison Information

Designated by the primary session convener, liaisons are responsible for ensuring each OSPA presenter in their session(s) has three evaluations submitted by volunteer reviewers.

Liaison Responsibilities 

    • Secure volunteer reviewers for your session’s OSPA presentation(s) by leveraging your network. AGU assists in recruiting, but your professional connections are integral in securing volunteers. 
    • Ensure your session’s OSPA presentation(s) has three reviewers signed up to evaluate.
    • Ensure the reviewers assigned to your session’s OSPA presentation(s) submit their evaluations.  
    • You may choose to review students in your session yourself. This is acceptable if there is no conflict of interest. Learn more about reviewing student presentations here. 

    Liaison Resources

    If you have any questions, please contact AGU at [email protected]. 

    Return to OSPA homepage.

    • Eligibility: Only AGU members are eligible to serve as liaisons. It is not required to attend Fall Meeting, but attendance will be helpful. Student members are eligible to serve as liaisons if they are not participating in OSPA as a student presenter.
    section of Poster Hall

    OSPA Coordinator Information

    Coordinators act as the OSPA managers for their section. The coordinator role requires a minimal time commitment (about one to two hours per week through early February). Section coordinators are assigned by their section leadership.

    Responsibilities

    • Manage the effort to secure volunteer reviewers for students within their section by encouraging reviewers to sign up via direct email or other communications
    • Support their section’s liaisons in their efforts to recruit reviewers for their sessions
    • Encourage reviewers to enter their scores by the evaluation deadline
    • Participate in the selection of OSPA winners within their section
    • Commit about one to two hours per week, starting in November through early February

    Eligibility: Non-student AGU members are eligible to serve as OSPA Coordinators. Attendance at the AGU Meeting is not required but may be helpful. If you are interested in participating as an OSPA coordinator, contact your Section leadership.

    Coordinator Resources