Students: Show Off Your Scholarship at Undergraduate Research Day
Students from all academic disciplines are invited to showcase their research and creative work in the upcoming OU Undergraduate Research Day.
Hosted by the OU Honors College, the 32nd annual Undergraduate Research Day is slated for Saturday, April 4, at Lissa and Cy Wagner Hall, 1005 Asp Ave., on the OU Norman campus.
At the annual conference, the Honors College hosts students who were funded in their research or creative activities from the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, as well as other students who want to show what they have discovered in their fields.
All undergraduate students at OU are eligible to apply. Membership in the Honors College is not required to participate. Presentations are held in sessions of about five students, organized by general topic and are judged for prizes in each category.
For more information and to apply, visit http://www.ou.edu/honors/undergraduate-research/urd. Applications are due Feb. 24.
Students shouldn’t be deterred if their projects are not yet complete, said OU senior and past presenter Alby Musaelian, who noted there is time for research to develop between the filing deadline and the April presentation date.
“Not being far along is not a reason why somebody should feel that they can’t submit an abstract,” Musaelian said. “There’s no issue if the science drags you in a different direction after you submit an abstract. Everybody understands that these are a work in progress.”
In 2019, Undergraduate Research Day featured a record 120 presentations across 24 different sessions and a multitude of disciplines, including engineering, chemistry, architecture, linguistics, anthropology and more.
Last year, OU senior Gianni Manginelli was selected as the grand prize winner in the biochemistry division. He said the day illustrates the University’s commitment to research.
“Undergraduate Research Day is a really important part of the academic culture at OU because it shows the extent to which access to research opportunities is valued here,” Manginelli said. “URD is a chance for hardworking, motivated students from all sorts of departments to showcase their passion for their research subject.”
Senior Katy Felkner, also a previous presenter, says it’s a great opportunity to strengthen one’s resume prior to pursuing a career in research.
“For students who want to go to graduate school, it is important to have presentations from undergraduate research on their CVs,” she said. “URD is a low-stress, friendly presentation opportunity for students to get more comfortable presenting their work and get ready to apply to larger conferences.”
Musaelian added, “In my experience, it’s very valuable in terms of honing your presentation skills.”
The 2020 Undergraduate Research Day will consist of morning and afternoon sessions at Wagner Hall. The event is free to attend and open to the general public.
Article Published: Wednesday, February 12, 2020