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.

Application Process

To be considered for this year’s Tell It Straight Final competition (held on March 5, 2025), research students are required to submit 250-word abstract of their research in a succinct way, tailored at non-specialist audience. The submission deadline is 16.00pm (Irish Time) on Thursday, 28 November 2024 (late applications won’t be accepted). Please submit your abstract entries via the below link.

Submit your abstract here

Subsequently, all abstracts will be assessed by an expert panel, and 5 finalists from each category will be drawn and notified.

All entrants must be able to attend the final event in-person on Wednesday, 5 March 2025.

Competition Rules

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

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

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

1. Suitability for a non–specialist audience

2. Quality of the writing style

3. Clear and meaningful message

4. Clear articulation of the value of the research

The Final 2025

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. This year's final will take place on Wednesday, 5 March 2025.

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.

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