‘Pitch Your Project’ Student Competition

The Pitch Your Project competition offers students a chance to present the value and impact of their research to a general audience in under three minutes. This event is open to participants from universities and colleges and welcomes both undergraduate and graduate students. If you want to strengthen your communication skills and improve opportunities for future career development, then this competition is for you!

How to participate in the ‘Pitch Your Project’ Competition:

Internal Selection: Participating institutions are asked to hold an internal ‘Pitch Your Project’ Student Competition and select one finalist who will advance into the finals hosted at the CIFST Food Summit. Finalists must be determined by their institution by April 27, 2026. Instructions for the evaluation of the participants are provided in the judging rubric below.

CIFST Food Summit Competition:

Step 1: The selected finalist from the institution must sign up online to confirm their entry in the ‘Pitch Your Project’ the finals hosted at the CIFST Food Summit. The sign-up form will be available online starting January 8, 2026.

Step 2: All finalists must also be registered to attend the Summit. Registration information for the Summit can be found HERE.

Step 3: Finalists must attend the CIFST Food Summit in person and submit their single PowerPoint slide in advance (due June 1) with no slide transitions, animations, or “movement” of any description. See presentation rules below for more details.

Please note that presentations can be given in English or French.

Final ‘Pitch Your Project’ Competition during the CIFST Food Summit:

  • The final competition will be held on Wednesday, June 10th, 2026, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm.

Prizes:

  • First place: $250
  • Second place: $150
  • Third place: $100

Presentation Rules:

  1. A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or “movement” of any description allowed).
  2. PowerPoint presentations must be submitted in advance by June 1st.
  3. The slide is to remain in view for the duration of the oration.
  4. No additional electronic media (e.g., sound and/or video files) are permitted.
  5. No props (e.g., costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment, phones, etc.) are permitted.
  6. Presentations are limited to three minutes maximum. Participants will be given a 30-second visual or audio warning.
  7. All presentations must be spoken (i.e., no poems, raps, or songs).
  8. Presentations are considered commenced when a presenter starts the presentation through movement or speech.
  9. The decisions of the judges are final.

Competition Judging Rubric Example: