MMMC's 2nd Student Scientific Conference

Finally, I feel more settled down. Many things have been piling up one over the other. After delivering my ortho appliances yesterday, I felt so much relieved. Anyway, am going to have an OSCE exam this coming week. So while I relax, I thought maybe I write something in here.

Just 2 weeks ago, on 19^th March, our college held the annual student scientific conference (SSC) and dental quiz competition “Impaction”. This year, it was up to my batch to present our research papers. The 49 of us were divided into 16 groups; each group was mentored by a lecturer. We draw lots to determine our lecturer in charged. For my group, we were under Prof.Sumanth. I’m glad to be able to work with Bhairavi and Chen Wei for this paper. 

Through the first few months of 4^th year, we were busy with the preparation for the research proposal and presentations for the approval from the ethical committee. After getting “bombarded” in the ethical committee meeting, we went through all the suggestions and did some major corrections with our proposal. After submission of the final proposal and getting the approval of the ethical committee, we started our work. It took us almost one year to complete the results. Dr.Htoo Htoo then helped us with the statistical analysis part. After all the analysis, we managed to submit the manuscript. 2 weeks before the conference, we had to do a mock oral presentation in front of the student scientific research committee. Taking in all the suggestions, we sat with our mentor again to improve the powerpoint slides and our presentation skills. Dr.Sumanth (big boss) had been a really great mentor, saving us from the many blunders we made through the whole process. We only know on the stage that day of SSC that his insight and advice (some prep talk) were indeed blessing in disguise.

Lecture classes and clinics were cancelled a day before the SSC and all final years were gathered in the hall for a full rehearsal. My group was scheduled to be the 5^th group for presentation. The 4^th years and some 3^rd year students were busy setting up the whole hall. I felt a little nostalgic of last year SSC when seeing the juniors work. Ken and the team did a good job this year. *clap!*

We were all so nervous during rehearsal. I was fidgety, repeating the opening line numerous times while waiting for our turn at the side of the stage. When asked the ever calm Chen Wei why she is not feeling the nerve, she just said “I’m already peeing inside.” That was just hilarious. After positioning ourselves to one side of the stage and mic check, I signaled to the time keeper. When she said “And your time starts now”, my head just went blank. Well aware that I will waste time to recollect what to say, I just when for a general good morning and then introduce our research topic with major mistakes here and there. At that point of time, I really wanted to dig a hole and hide from our mentor. *An utter disappointment after he stayed back to run through with us the previous day*  All 3 of us had some mistakes here and there but Dr.Sumanth told us it was not too bad and we just needed some more practice to be fluent. *so positive*

Not satisfied we our performance during rehearsal, we spent the whole night before the conference in the common room of our hostel ground floor (our usual meet up place) practicing our presentation. We repeated the whole presentation again and again, making sure all pronunciations were clear, timing each other, practicing the changing of slides and using the pointer.

The next day, Chen Wei helped me with my hair in my crib before we head to the hall. We all agreed on suit and skirt with hair tied up in a neat bun. After on quick round of mic test on stage that morning, we helped ourselves to a light breakfast. The event started off with a quick speech from our dean and then the first group was up to present. The 3 of us kept running through our lines for presentation and by the time we know it, we were on stage delivering our work. I was happy with our presentation skills that day. We tried to keep a good pace so that everyone can understand the whole study in that tight 10 minutes we have. The judges were not as intimidating as we thought. However, I think our answering skills still needs to be sharpen. Overall, our mentor was happy with our performance. It was a good experience.

At the end of the day, results were announced and we were blessed with 3^rd placing, tied with Annishka’s group. And now, we are preparing for the poster presentation in the coming national dental student scientific conference, so wish us the best ya~! See you in Kuantan soon.