Event Details 

Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026
Time: 6 PM - 8:30 PM
Location: CSF-1302 (Core Science Facility)

The Gong Show aims to excite the local community about research happening here in the Faculty of Science at Memorial University!

Student, post-doctoral, and faculty presenters are challenged to pitch their research – jargon-free – in three minutes or less. 

The Gong Show presenter must describe their science in a way that a general audience can understand, and the use of props is highly encouraged!  

If a presenter uses too much jargon, or simplifies their research so much the audience is no longer following, judges and audience members can “gong” the presenter. This will signal the speaker to explain their science more clearly.

Remember: the goal is not to avoid talking about the science – but to try and explain your research in an accessible way!

Check out some examples of science gong shows: 

University of Colorado Gong Show (Project Bridge)
Pint of Science online gong show 

Judges will include local community members and the top undergraduate and graduate/post-doctoral presenters will win cash prizes! 

Awards
Best Presentation
People’s Choice Award

If you have questions, please email seaconf@mun.ca, or visit our FAQ Page.

Presenters

Maheru Bint Rahman, M.Sc., Biology
The Hidden Players in Diabetes and Osteoarthritis

Kathryn Cole, M.Sc., Biology
Let the Good Times Roll: Developing a Historical Time Series for Spawning Atlantic Capelin Stocks

Megan Fitzgerald Ph.D., Chemistry
It’s a Chem-Mystery!: A gamified murder mystery-style lab to improve observational and problem-solving skills in a second-year inorganic chemistry course

Padmapriya Srinivasan Ph.D., Chemistry
From Fish Waste to Safer Plastics

Syed Omar Faruk Towaha, Ph.D., Computer Science
Kelp Forest Detection Through Remote Sensing and Machine Learning

Colton Fowlow, M.Sc., Physics & Physical Oceanography
The Case for Yellow and Red Supergiant Stars

Michael Hopkins, B.Sc., Psychology
An Open Letter to Sabrina Carpenter

Sajedabanu Patel, M.Sc., Computer Science
GrowGrid NL: Smart Micro-Farming for Northern Communities