FAQ
If you have any questions not answered below, please email Svitlana Zbarska, the Symposium Coordinator.
When and where will the Symposium take place?
What is the purpose of the Symposium?
What activities will take place at the Symposium?
What kind of undergraduate research is appropriate for the Symposium?
Who is invited to present papers at the Symposium?
Can I present research I did with a faculty mentor who is not affiliated with ISU?
How long will I have to make my presentation?
Is there a required format for the presentation?
Do I have to stay for the entire Symposium?
Can I present more than one paper at the Symposium?
How do I apply to present a paper at the Symposium?
What should be included in the abstract?
What is the submission deadline?
Who reviews the abstracts and selects the participants?
How and when will I be notified of the outcome of my submission?
Can I invite friends, family and other faculty?
How will my work be publicized?
Will there be poster sessions?
Will there be creative art and performance-based presentations?
Can I present as part of a group?
I'm still not sure. How can I find out more?
When and where will the Symposium take place?
Symposium activities will take place on Tuesday April 17, 2019 in the Memorial Union.
What is the purpose of the Symposium?
The Symposium provides undergraduates the opportunity to share examples of their significant research with 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. Breaks between sessions offer refreshments and opportunities for conversation. In addition to student presentations, there will be programs on writing personal statements, preparing conference proposals and other professional development topics.
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 Mentor Acknowledgement form.
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 engaged in mentored research and 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 Mentor Acknowledgement form.
How long will I have to make my presentation?
Each session will consist of three to five 15-minute presentations (including time for questions). Presenters should plan on making a 12-minute presentation to leave time for questions.
Is there a required format for the presentation?
Yes. All presentations will be supported by a PowerPoint and will be loaded on the session computer in advance to minimize transition time between presentations. If you need assistance in the technical aspects of preparing a PowerPoint presentation, contact Svitlana Zbarska, the Symposium Coordinator.
Do I have to stay for the entire Symposium?
No, but we would like you to participate in as much of the event as possible. Because this is an educational event, and that education will come from both presenting and observing others present, we ask that you attend the opening session, the entire session of your own proposal (of course!) and at least one other session of interest during the day.
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?
Students interested in participating in the Symposium should (1) complete and submit an electronic copy of the completed Abstract Submission form and (2) turn in a signed copy of the Mentor Acknowledgement Form to 2130 Jischke Honors Building. The submission deadline is 4:00 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2019.
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 submission deadline?
Complete applications must be received by 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 14, 2019.
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?
Of course!
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) and your presentation title; abstracts will be posted online. An example of the previous years' programs is available online.
Will there be poster sessions?
Yes! This year the Symposium will have a small afternoon poster session, both to allow more students to participate in the Symposium and to provide an presentation opportunity for those in the early stages of their work or whose research is best presented in poster format.
Will there be creative art and performance-based presentations?
Absolutely! 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 on creative work.
Can I present as part of a group?
Yes. Instructions for group submissions are included on the online submission form. It is recommended that groups of more than three students designated 1-3 students to present and have the remainder of the group present and available to respond to questions.
I'm still not sure. How can I find out more?
Two optional information sessions will be held for students interested in applying for the Symposium:
- Monday, February 4, 12:10-1:00 pm in 1151 Jischke
- Tuesday, February 5, 3:10-4:00 pm in 1151 Jischke