Science in a Flash: The ASBMB flash talk competition
Science in a Flash is not the usual scientific presentation, it is a creative challenge: How do you explain your research to a general audience in just three minutes and one slide? This annual competition features short talks from selected presenters who are challenged to distill their research to its essence and make it more accessible to the nonexpert audience, including policymakers, family and friends, K–12 students, teachers and others.
Each year, the ASBMB Science Outreach and Communication Committee selects up to 10 graduate student and postdoc annual meeting travel awardees to present their work. Presenters are judged by a panel of committee members, and attendees play a major role in selecting the best talk for the audience choice award. At #DiscoverBMB 2023, we hosted the fourth annual flash talk competition.
Do you want to learn more about crafting your own flash talk? Below are helpful resources and example presentations showcasing past winners. For more guidance or information email us at: outreach@asbmb.org.
Resources
Examples of flash talks
This YouTube playlist features the three winning talks given at the 2022 Science in a Flash competition.
How to create a flash talk
Science in a Flash: How to give a successful flash talk
2025 flash talk competition
First

Zoe Schaefer
- University of Florida
Bookmarks for the immune system
Second

Shukurah Anas
- Michigan State University
No oxygen, no problem: BSS eats oil spills for lunch
Audience choice

Vanshika Patel
- University of Maryland, Baltimore
Vitamin A and ERK signaling: A dynamic duo against asthma
Other participants

Ram Aasarey
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

Charles Agbavor
- University of Pittsburgh

André Lira da Silva
- Oregon Health & Science University

Patricia Makori
- Loma Linda School of Public Health

Mari Nakashima
- University of Washington

Irene Stoutland
- University of Wisconsin–Madison

Yifan Wang
- University of Tokyo