This portion of the task involves discussing your chosen research problem and the final report with a panel of examiners.

What you have to do

1. Please refer to the scheduling page and attend the viva slot allocated to your group (We have allocated these randomly)
   
2. Please be punctual.
3. Once you enter the venue:
   1. Please introduce your group members.
   2. Make a quick (no more than 5 minutes) introduction to your research problem.
   3. The panel will take over from there.
4. You do not have to prepare anything (e.g. slides, notes) for this session. This viva is about the work that you put into your Final Report.
5. You are not expected to remember everything. So please bring along any reference material.

To be announced later.

Categories

5: Excellent	4: Good	3: Average	2: Below Average	1: Needs improvement
Displays almost all (≈ 90%) of the indicators.	Displays a vast majority (≈ 75%) of the indicators.	Displays many (≈ 50%) of the indicators.	Displays several (≈ 25%) of the indicators.	Displays a few (≈ 10%) of the indicators.

Category	Trying to ascertain	Indicators	5	4	3	2	1
Communication (General) (30%)	How well do the students interact with the people and surroundings?	— Clear oral and (written if using the whiteboard) communication skills. (e.g. does not mumbling, speaks at a comfortable pace, writing is legible), — Smoothness of speech, confidence, eye contact (with all assessors and not just one). — Able to employ a wide range of strategies (e.g. examples, analogies, humour, use of the whiteboard) to discuss ideas. — Uses jargon sparingly and adjusts language to suit the background of the audience. — No one person dominates the discussion. Creates opportunities for one’s teammates to participate. — Positive body language. There is absence of unnecessary body movements which distract audience. — Body movement and gestures are used effectively to convey information. — Speaker exhibits a clear interest, excitement about the topic through verbal or non-verbal cues.
Content (30%)	What is the quality of the content put forth by the the students?	— Provides concise responses. Responses have purpose and are able to directly address the questions posed (No going off at a tangent about irrelevant points or topics). — Provides clear responses. Ideas presented are cohesiveness and exhibits a logical flow. Audience (examiners) are rarely, if ever, lost or confused. — Not only provides valid, thoughtful, insightful answers to questions but also preempts questions. — Ability to actively discuss points raised in the report, supported by their knowledge or literature.
Knowledge (20%)	Does the students possess the necessary basic knowledge?	— Clearly demonstrates familiarity with basic knowledge related to the topic. — Knowledge is accurate. — Familiarity with the literature — Able to draw majority of the argument from the existing literature. Otherwise, arguments are based on basic knowledge
Applied Problem Solving (20%)	How well do the students respond to on-the-spot challenges?	— Possess the capacity to think on your feet. — Ability to enhance explanation using additional materials such as props or whiteboards. — Apply their knowledge to new, real or hypothetical situations. — Diagnose problems in novel situations;. — Ability to handle questions — Able to justify material relevant to final report. — Pays attention to reactions/responses from the audience and adapts/responds appropriately and adequately.

Why are we doing this? What are the objectives?

There are several things we hope to achieve through this viva-voce:

• To ascertain if you have acquired the skills (e.g. information literacy, presentations, making logical connections, identifying gaps and pitfalls) practised in 71 that are essential for a career in research.
• To create an opportunity for you to practice conducting a scientific discussion about a topic that interests you. This reflects the world of practice of a working scientist.
• To gain a fuller understanding of your thinking that went into your final report. It will also allow us to seek clarifications about any unclear or ambiguous portions in your final report.
• To guarantee that the work represented by the final report is your own.

Please remember that science is about filling in the gaps, joining the dots, solving problems and learning from mistakes. You need not always have the correct answer. It is more important to be able to be open to discussion that can logically lead to a deeper understanding of a topic.