Caltech Students Shine in Annual Communication Competitions

In a world increasingly shaped by science and technology, the ability to explain research findings and convey their importance is imperative.

Recognizing that strong communications can help amplify the impact of research, the Student-Faculty Programs (SFP) Office recently conducted a triad of communications competitions to recognize undergraduate excellence in scientific communication via poster presentations, oral presentations, and technical writing. The competitions, endowed by donors to the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) program, aim to help students develop essential skills in presenting research to diverse audiences.

"These competitions encourage undergraduate researchers to strive for excellence in communicating their work," says Candace Rypisi, assistant vice provost and director of Student-Faculty Programs. By prioritizing student engagement and success, SFP aims to ensure that every student has the tools and support they need to make meaningful contributions to science and society. "Now more than ever, being able to communicate one's science is critical in so many ways."

Together, the competitions—Gee Family SURF Poster Competition, Doris S. Perpall SURF Speaking Competition, and Joel and Marcella Bonsall SURF Technical Writing Competition—provide students with the opportunity to showcase their work to faculty judges and an engaged campus audience.

Gee Family SURF Poster Competition

The Gee Family SURF Poster Competition, endowed by John (BS '53 and Barbara Gee, highlights outstanding poster presentations, emphasizing clarity and organization over research significance. Participants must convey technical content effectively to a general scientific audience, then faculty judges evaluate the posters based on content, design, and verbal presentation.

This year's winners (non-ranked) are:

• Ai-Dan Le (Ray F. Jurgens SURF Fellow), mentored by Murray Brightman (NuSTAR Science Operations, operations specialist)
• Kieran Vlahakis (J. Weldon Green SURF Fellow), mentored by Oscar Bruno (professor of applied and computational mathematics) and Manuel Santana (graduate student in applied and computational mathematics)
• Keyu (Sophia) Wan (DaRin Butz SURF Fellow), mentored by Aaron Ames (Bren Professor of Mechanical and Civil Engineering and Control and Dynamical Systems) and Kejun Li (graduate student in computation and neural systems)

Judging the competition were faculty members Kayane Dingilian (lecturer of chemistry and chemical engineering), George Djorgovski (professor of astronomy and data Science), Franca Hoffmann (assistant professor of computing and mathematical sciences), and Joseph Shepherd (C.L. "Kelly" Johnson Professor of Aeronautics and Mechanical Engineering).

Doris S. Perpall SURF Speaking Competition

Endowed by Robert C. Perpall (BS '52, MS '56) in honor of his late wife, the Doris S. Perpall SURF Speaking Competition fosters excellence in oral communication. First held in 1993, the competition has become a defining opportunity for Caltech students to refine their public speaking skills.

Out of 194 student presenters this academic year, six finalists advanced to the final round. Faculty and professional judges assessed clarity, presentation style, and engagement.

This year's winners are:

• First Place: Ishita Mathur, mentored by Pablo Moscato (professor of data science, The University of Newcastle, Australia) and Shinsuke Shimojo (Gertrude Baltimore Professor of Experimental Psychology)
• Second Place: Virginia H. (Gigi) Pistilli, mentored by Ingibjörg Svala Jónsdóttir (professor of ecology, University of Iceland) and Bastien C. Papinot (graduate student in life and environmental sciences, University of Iceland)
• Third Place: Kai L. Svenson, mentored by Maria Spiropulu (Shang-Yi Ch'en Professor of Physics)

Judging this year's competition were Harriet Brettle (executive director, Keck Institute for Space Studies), Niles Pierce (MacArthur Professor of Applied and Computational Mathematics and Bioengineering and executive officer for biology and biological engineering), and Linda Ye (Assistant Professor of Physics).

Joel and Marcella Bonsall SURF Technical Writing Competition

The Joel and Marcella Bonsall SURF Technical Writing Competition, endowed in 1997 by Marcella Bonsall, recognizes excellence in technical writing among senior SURF participants. Final reports were evaluated for clarity, conciseness, and significance within their respective research fields.

This year's winners are:

• First Place: Sydney Vernon, mentored by Tapio Schneider (Theodore Y. Wu Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering), Ronak Patel (graduate student in environmental science and engineering), and Dave Bonan (CICOES Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Washington)
• Second Place: Rohan Kolhe, mentored by David Anderson (Seymour Benzer Professor of Biology; Leadership Chair and director of the Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience Leadership Chair; Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute) and Aditya Nair (postdoctoral scholar, biology and biological engineering)
• Third Place: Brayden Noh, mentored by Michael Lamb (professor of geology) and Kim Miller (laboratory manager)

Caltech's SURF Communication Competitions continue to serve as a platform for students to refine their ability to translate complex research into accessible narratives—equipping students with the skills to not only conduct groundbreaking research but also share their discoveries with the world.