May 14, 2013
Symposium features undergraduate research
More than 1,000 undergraduates will showcase their contributions to innovative and groundbreaking research at the 16th annual Undergraduate Research Symposium 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, May 17 in Mary Gates Hall. Some presentations will also occur in Johnson Hall and Meany Studio Theater.
Student researcher discusses her work at 2012 Undergraduate Research Symposium.
In conjunction with the symposium, another 50 undergraduates from UW and nine other universities will present results from research collaborations through the McNair scholars and other such programs, May 16 to 18.
The UW Undergraduate Research Symposium provides a forum for undergraduate students to present the research, scholarly and creative work they have accomplished alongside faculty and graduate mentors throughout the academic year. Through their poster and oral presentations, undergraduates also learn to explain and connect their work to a general audience.
Students will share their research on topics such as new methods for targeted DNA sequencing, improving waste management efficiency at the UW, translating athletes’ football intelligence to classroom success, cultivating a sustainable farm at a prison, creating a low-cost paper-based test to diagnose infectious diseases such as malaria in developing countries, and producing a Native American comic book to share important information relating to cancer education, among many others.
The annual undergraduate research mentor awards, which recognize exceptional faculty and graduate student mentors to undergraduate researchers, will also be announced during the program.
The symposium is organized by Undergraduate Academic Affairs’ Undergraduate Research Program, which facilitates research experiences for students in all academic disciplines. Symposium attendees are encouraged to search the online proceedings.
The regional McNair conference, co-sponsored by the Early Identification Program for Graduate Studies and the Graduate School’s Graduate Opportunities & Minority Achievement Program, will take place at Mary Gates Hall, the HUB and also at the Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center. The 50 undergraduate scholars include 26 UW students affiliated with the McNair Scholars Program, Presidential Scholars Program, Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation and Initiative for Maximizing Student Development.
