Undergraduate Research Symposium

Symposium Links

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any questions not answered below, please email Dana Schumacher, the Symposium Coordinator.

Student presenting their research.

When and where will the Symposium take place?

Symposium activities will take place on Tuesday April 20, 2010 in the Memorial Union.

What is the purpose of the Symposium?

The Symposium provides undergraduates the opportunity to share examples of their significant research to members and friends of the Iowa State University community.

What activities will take place at the Symposium?

Students will present their research with oral presentations supported by PowerPoint in sessions moderated by faculty members. Student and faculty participants will be provided lunch.

What kind of undergraduate research is appropriate for the Symposium?

Research projects from all disciplines are welcome. Students working on faculty-directed research projects and students working on their own research under faculty direction are encouraged to present their work. The latter category includes but is not limited to capstone projects, senior theses, and honors projects. In all cases, the student must be working with a faculty mentor who will, along with the student, be required to sign the abstract submission.

Research presented at the Symposium is expected to represent scholarly activity in the discipline of the topic. A paper assembled for meeting requirements of a class project typically will not qualify. Likewise, a literature survey - in the absence of substantial generalization, synthesis, and/or analysis leading to new understanding - will not qualify.

Who is invited to present papers at the Symposium?

The Symposium is open to all Iowa State University undergraduates enrolled at the time of the event.

Can I present research I did with a faculty mentor who is not affiliated with ISU?

Yes, provided the faculty mentor signs the abstract submission.

How long will I have to make my presentation?

Each session will consist of four 15-minute presentations (including time for questions). Presenters should plan on making a 12-minute presentation to leave time for questions. All presentations will be loaded on the session computer to minimize transition time between presentations.

Is there a required format for the presentation?

Yes. All presentations will be made in MS PowerPoint or equivalent and will be loaded on the session computer to minimize transition time between presentations. If you need assistance in the technical aspects of preparing a PowerPoint presentation, contact Dana Schumacher, the Symposium Coordinator.

Do I have to stay for the entire Symposium?

No. We invite and encourage participants to attend all of the Symposium events, but you are only required to attend your own session.

Can I present more than one paper at the Symposium?

A student can present up to two papers. In this case, the papers must be on separate research topics. Students may either be the sole author or co-author for up to two papers.

How do I apply to present a paper at the Symposium?

A student interested in participating in the Symposium should complete and return an electronic copy of the completed Abstract Submission Form to dschumac@iastate.edu and return a hard copy of the same completed form signed by the faculty mentor to: 2130 Jischke Honors Building, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-1150.

What should be included in the abstract?

The abstract should contain a statement of the motivation for the research, its importance, and relevance to previous research. A concise statement of the problem being address or the hypothesis being tested is essential. Sources of information or method of acquiring data should be summarized. Method of analysis should be described and new findings should be summarized. The abstract should close with implications of this research and possible future directions for future research.

What is the abstract submission deadline?

Abstracts must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 17, 2010.

Who reviews the abstracts and selects the participants?

Abstracts will be reviewed by ISU faculty members and, possibly, qualified graduate students familiar with the field of research. Their recommendations will be provided to the coordinators of the Symposium, who will make the final decisions.

How and when will I be notified of the outcome of my submission?

E-mail announcements will be sent to selected presenters in early March.

Can I invite friends, family and other faculty?

Yes. Student participants will have the opportunity after the acceptance of their submissions to have invitations mailed to those individuals whom they would like to invite to the Symposium.

How will my work be publicized?

The Symposium Program, which will be available online and in booklet form, will include your name and that of your mentor(s) along with the presentation title and the abstract. An example of the previous year's program is available online.

Will there be poster sessions?

No, although poster sessions may become part of the Symposium in subsequent years.

Will there be creative art and performance-based presentations?

Can I present as part of a group?

We hope so! The Symposium will adhere to the PowerPoint supported, oral presentation structure, but this format provides the flexibility to incorporate images, video and/or audio files that can illustrate presentations about creative work.

Yes, though we will ask that one student serve as the lead contact for communicating information between the symposium organizers and the group. The Abstract Submission Form should be submitted by the lead contact student, listing other group members in the space provided.