New UA Competition Gives Undergrads Chance to Showcase Research/Creativity Projects

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Who said you had to be a graduate student to do award-winning research that could be presented at national conferences?

At The University of Alabama, undergraduates will showcase their research and creative activity projects at UA’s inaugural “Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Conference,” April 21 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Ferguson Center on UA’s campus.

The event will display a wide variety of out-of-class research and creative activities by undergraduates and give them practical experience in defending or performing their work before judges with the chance to win cash prizes.

This competition is important because it provides students with experience that is essential for them to be at the top of their field, especially when it comes to applying for a job or to graduate school, according to Dr. David Francko, assistant vice president for academic affairs and dean of the graduate school at UA.

“The University of Alabama is committed to making undergraduate research and scholarship a central part of the UA undergraduate experience,” said Francko, who heads the new UA Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Committee. “The thrill of discovery students experience by working with a faculty mentor to produce their own new research findings, an exciting work of art, or other intellectual accomplishment is an ideal stepping stone to a productive career, regardless of major.”

To participate, undergraduate students must register their project by submitting an application form and abstract of no more than 100 words describing the key points of their project and submit them by March 1 to the undergraduate research coordinator in the college of their major.

Forms for the abstract, complete competition rules and guidelines, and a list of undergraduate research coordinators in each of the participating colleges, schools and programs can be found on the Graduate school Web site, at http://graduate.ua.edu.

Once a student’s submission is accepted into the competition, he or she can create either a poster or prepare an oral presentation based on his or her work. Students who choose to turn their research or creative project into a poster have the opportunity to have the poster made by the Office of University Printing free of charge.

Poster submissions will be displayed and oral presentations will be given at the Ferguson Center on April 21 from 2 to 6 p.m. when the submissions will be judged by faculty members from each of the participating colleges, schools and programs.

First, second and third place prizes will be given to the winners by each participating college, school and program. The first place prize is $250; second place, $100; and third place, $50. The Global Certificate Program will award a book scholarship to the winner of the best creative work.

The UA Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Conference is sponsored by UA’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Committee, the Graduate School, the Office of Research, and participating UA academic divisions. Those divisions are the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Commerce and Business Administration, Communication and Information Sciences, Engineering, and Human Environmental Sciences; the schools of Nursing and Social Work; and the Honors College, McNair Scholars, and the Global Certificate Program.

For the past four years, UA’s College of Arts and Sciences has conducted a research and creative activity competition that attracted more than 100 students who presented work ranging from genetic research to dance performances to field research.

“We were delighted with the response from our students at the opportunity to share their work with fellow students and faculty,” said Dr. Robert F. Olin, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “Expanding this event to all University students is a natural outgrowth of the College’s successful experience, and we look forward to seeing the work of many more undergraduates showcased at this year’s campuswide event.”