The UW Undergraduate Research Symposium is an annual, day-long celebration of undergraduate accomplishment in research, scholarship and creative expression. Students from all three UW campuses and other local institutions present their research spanning over one hundred disciplines. This public event offers a wonderful forum for undergraduates to gain experience presenting their work and to engage in scholarly discussion with the UW community and guests who attend.
The Symposium begins with a formal welcome address from UW leadership, where we often hear from the President, Provost, and Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs about the important ways that undergraduates contribute to UW’s research excellence. The day then proceeds with student presentations across four types of concurrent sessions – poster presentations, 10-minute oral presentations, a performing arts showcase, and a visual arts & design showcase.
The Undergraduate Research Symposium started in 2002, almost thirty years ago! It has grown substantially over the past three decades. In 2024, we witnessed over 1,200 undergraduates present their research with the support of over 1,000 research mentors. Presentations took place across five campus buildings.
We see the Undergraduate Research Symposium as a space for the undergraduate research community to come together and celebrate and support the people who are the engine of the undergraduate research ecosystem: student researchers; faculty, post-doc and graduate student mentors; staff at all levels; undergraduate peers; community partners; and friends and family.
Fun Facts
- We formally recognize the commitment of those who mentor undergraduates in researched celebrate them by awarding several awards for Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor awards to faculty, staff, post-docs, and graduate students.
- This event extends beyond the UW community to celebrate undergraduates from across our region – in 2024, we had over 100 students presenting from 11 partner institutions, including Everett Community College, Shoreline Community College, South Seattle College, Pierce College, and more.
- The Undergraduate Research Symposium would not be possible with the dedicated time and commitment of hundreds of volunteer UW community members each year, including students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
- We have a cherished tradition of having an undergraduate trumpeter play an energetic fanfare to officially kick off the Undergraduate Research Symposium.