When it comes to presenting a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) project, technical knowledge is not enough. It’s important to be clear, objective and to win the audience’s attention with a successful pitch.
A pitch is nothing more than a short, objective presentation used to convince or sell an idea. In education, to use this technique for a school project is a way for students to systematize their knowledge, recognize the main points of their innovation and defend their idea in a clear and simple way.
Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Latam has put together seven tips that will help you master the art of presenting STEM projects.
1. Understand your audience
The first step to a successful pitch is knowing your audience. Before structuring the presentation, ask yourself: who will be watching? The language should be adapted to the audience’s level of familiarity with STEM and the subject being researched.
With a technical audience, you can go into more specific detail about the used methodology and the tools and resources needed to arrive at the prototype. For non-specialists, focus on explaining the benefits and impact of the project, avoiding complex concepts. If there is a mixed audience, it’s important to strike a balance, explaining how the project works but without going into too much technical detail.If you are in doubt about your language being appropriate, you can always test it with colleagues who understand STEM and friends who don’t. The “Talk” project team, finalists at Solve for Tomorrow 2022 in Chile, presented their project to all the classes at school, allowing them to improve their presentation for the final pitch.
2. Control the timing of your presentation
To make a successful pitch, it’s important to pay attention to the presentation timing and format. Marketing and technology expert Guy Kawasaki, who studies pitch strategies, suggests applying the 10/20/30 Rule, a formula that says:
- 10 – Limit your presentation to a maximum of 10 slides, keeping the content short and to the point;
- 20 – Make short pitches, presented in no more than 20 minutes;
- 30 – Use a font size of at least 30 on your slides. Using fonts of this size will prevent text excesses and ensure that you focus on the most important points.
3. Begin with a good story
Capturing your audience’s attention right from the start is very important. So start with a narrative that highlights the problem your STEM project solves. It’s worth using a real story that piques your audience’s interest, as well as putting your project in a practical context.For example, if you’re presenting a solution to decontaminate rivers, talk about how pollution happens and how it impacts the local community, as is the case with Peru’s finalist project “Biozono” (2021), in which young people used orange and banana peels to remove heavy metals from water.
In Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, students and mediator teachers have to present their projects in front of a jury, in approximately 5 to 10 minutes, according to the rules of the local edition of the program. In the photo, the “niñOS” team presenting at the Solve for Tomorrow 2022 final, from Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
4. Present the problem and the solution clearly
One of the fundamentals of a good pitch is clarity. Present the problem you are solving with your project objectively. Use data to show the importance of the issue and its impact will be very enriching.
Also explain how your project offers a solution involving science, technology, engineering or mathematics areas. Be concise and objective, highlighting what makes your solution innovative and special. In the case of the “Sistemas passivos integrados de captura de energia mecânica” project, the group decided to generate sustainable electricity. To do this, they developed a device capable of capturing the mechanical energy from the movement of opening and closing doors, transforming it into electrical energy. The initiative by students from the Dominican Republic won Solve for Tomorrow in Central America and the Caribbean in 2021.
5. Show the results
A pitch must contain evidence and concrete results. If you have carried out tests or developed a prototype, present the results, showing that the project has substance and potential.
If you don’t have all the results yet, show initial data, market analysis, scientific studies or expert feedback that validates the need and viability of your project. The “City Sensor” project, winner of the 2023 Solve for Tomorrow Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay edition, created its own sensors for measuring air quality and presented what they obtained from its first measurements at the program’s final. Based on this data, the group was able to predict the temperature on other dates and see how the prototype could be used on a larger scale.
6. Practice your pitch several times
Remember to practice what you’re going to present a lot so that you can convey confidence and be prepared to answer questions. The success of a pitch depends not only on your idea, but also on how you communicate it.
The team that won Solve for Tomorrow in Colombia in 2020 with the project “Herói do ar: briquete de cisco de café” (Air Hero: coffee cisco briquette, in English) made several short elevator pitches in front of their colleagues to practice. Friends helped by asking questions and giving feedback on the project.
7. Have fun and learn from the process
Making a pitch doesn’t have to be a stressful moment, in fact, it’s an opportunity to share your passion for the project and get closer to people interested in the same topic. So have fun and enjoy learning!
The pitch will also allow you to go beyond technical STEM knowledge and develop other skills, such as strategic thinking, problem-solving and communication. The students of the “Elitorre” project, a finalist in Solve for Tomorrow Central America and the Caribbean 2022, improved their ability to express themselves in public by preparing for the pitch.
