Today@Sam Article

Student Projects Sought For Ninth Undergraduate Research Symposium

Jan. 26, 2016
SHSU Media Contact: Romney Thomas

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A student presents his research to a large audience during the seventh Undergraduate Research Symposium, sponsored annually by the Elliott T. Bowers Honors College. —All photos are submitted

Undergraduate students from all disciplines are invited to present their research, scholarship and creative projects at the Ninth Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium on April 23.

The URS is a formal conference hosted by Sam Houston State University’s Elliott T. Bowers Honors College Ambassadors.  The symposium is designed to provide a forum for all undergraduates to present their research to peers and faculty, as well as to help students grow as emerging professionals in their fields of study.

“Every student at SHSU conducts research, writes papers and creates projects for class,” said Honors College assistant dean and URS faculty adviser Tracy Bilsing.  “The URS provides an outstanding opportunity for students to learn how to transform those projects into engaging presentations and to present at an actual professional conference.”

Students can submit and present projects to the URS or simply attend as audience members free of cost.

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The URS gives students the chance to utilize the research they're doing in their classes by presenting their findings in a professional setting. 

“To me, that’s one of the biggest perks of the symposium,” Honors Ambassador and URS co-chair Everrett Moore said.  “This is a real, professional conference that students can use to gain experience and help build their resumes, but unlike conferences outside of SHSU, the URS costs nothing for students.”

Additionally, the URS offers three $500 scholarships for the most outstanding presentations.  Awards include:  The Assam Scholarship for Honors Research Award; The Honors College Award for Best Overall Oral-Media Presentation; and The Honors College Award for Best Overall Poster.

Student presenters must register by March 15. Registrations must include a 75-100 word abstract briefly describing the project, as well as a faculty adviser’s contact information.  Those who wish to submit their projects for scholarship consideration must do so by April 15.  Seniors who submit by the April 15 deadline are eligible for a non-scholarship award of recognition for excellence.

Informational sessions for interested students will be held on Feb. 3 and Feb. 4 from 4-5 p.m., in the Lowman Student Center Room 319.  Students who attend these sessions will learn more about the symposium, how to construct an abstract and will receive guidelines concerning poster design, PowerPoint and oral presentation.

“I loved my previous experience with the URS,” Honors Ambassador and URS co-chair Sarah Kavanaugh said.  “Prior to the symposium I had a little bit of experience with in-class presenting, but that was nothing like this conference.  It’s a great event because students receive constructive feedback from faculty moderators who truly care about their success.”

All URS attendees will receive free breakfast and lunch, snacks and gifts on the day of the conference.

The ninth annual URS will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 23, in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences building.

For more information about the URS or to register a project, students can visit shsu.edu/academics/honors/symposium.index.html or email urs@shsu.edu. 

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