Tell It Straight

DCU's Postgraduate Research Communications Competition

Hosted annually by the Graduate Studies Office, Tell It Straight competition enables postgraduate research students to communicate their research in a dynamic and innovative way. The competition challenges participants to communicate their research suitable to a non-specialist audience.

This year’s Final will take place from 2-4pm on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. More details to follow shortly.

The Final 2025

The successful finalists presenting their research at Tell It Straight 2025:

Category 1: Oral Presentations (Year-1 only)

Deirbhle Nic An Aoire, School of Psychology

Jake Tiernan, School of Psychology

Kate Murphy, Fiontar & Scoil na Gaeilge

Teresa Clifford, Fiontar & Scoil na Gaeilge

Therese Lundin, School of Applied Language & Intercultural Studies

Category 2: Oral Presentations (Year-2 onwards)

Hugh Mohan, School of Chemical Sciences

Jane Gaffey, School of Psychology

Megan Griffiths, School of Policy & Practice

Michela Lorandi, School of Computing

Michele Pringle, School of Policy & Practice

Category 3: Video Presentations (all years)

Avril Deegan, School of Psychology

Larissa Bless, School of Biotechnology

Lorna Doherty, School of Health & Human Performance

Méabh Ní Shluáin, Fiontar & Scoil na Gaeilge

Sukanya Shukla, School of Theology, Philosophy & Music

Competition Details

The Competition

The Tell It Straight communications competition challenges research students to communicate their research - and its potential impact - to a non-specialist audience in a concise, dynamic and innovative way.

Finalists are assessed by an expert judging panel on the following criteria:

1. Content is suitable for a non-specialist audience. Avoidance of jargon.

2. Good use of technology/visual aids.

3. Clear articulation of the value of the research.

4. A high standard of communication skills e.g. vocal mechanism such as pace, pitch, volume, vocal variety; and the message is effectively communicated to the audience.

5. Research methods and approach are clearly presented in an accessible manner to a non-specialist audience.

Competition Rules

The competition is open to registered research students in all years of study, however, finalists from the previous year's competition are excluded from entering.

Research students are permitted to enter abstracts for both the oral and the video category.

All abstracts are assessed by an expert judging panel on the following criteria:

Suitability for a non–specialist audience.
Quality of the writing style.
Clear and meaningful message.
Clear articulation of the value of the research.

For any queries, please contact Linda Prosa, Graduate Skills Officer | linda.prosa@dcu.ie