The 28th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium brought together more than 1,500 undergraduate scholars from the University of Washington and regional colleges to present 1,138 projects in over 100 disciplines. For many undergraduates, research is more than an academic pursuit — it’s a way to connect classroom learning to urgent real-world issues.
Tag: Undergraduate Research Symposium
Discovery unfolds at the 28th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium
On Friday, May 16, more than 1,500 undergraduates will present innovative research, scholarship and creative work as they converge at the 28th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium. The all-day celebration features undergraduates actively plugging into and contributing to the University of Washington’s strengths as an engine of discovery, public good and progress. Presenters represent all three UW campuses, as well as local community and regional colleges, highlighting the breadth of undergraduate research across the region.
Innovation revealed at the 27th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium
On May 17, over 1,200 undergraduates will present cutting-edge research and scholarship at the 27th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, a signature event for the University of Washington.
The 23rd Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium moves online
On Friday, May 15, 2020, more than 850 undergraduates will participate in the 23rd Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, which will be held online. When held in person, the UW’s Undergraduate Research Symposium is one of the largest in the country. This year’s online event is likely to follow suit. Student presenters represent all three University of Washington campuses as well as some community colleges, regional colleges and universities.
Registration is required to attend this year’s virtual Symposium. To register, visit symposium.uw.edu. Attending the event is always free.
Show students your support by updating your social media profile picture with a Symposium avatar, available for researchers, mentors, parents and champions of undergrad research.
Planning for the traditional event, which completely takes over Mary Gates Hall and expands into Odegaard Undergraduate Library, was well underway by the Undergraduate Research Program. Then the novel coronavirus pandemic hit, putting a halt to in-person events. More than 1,200 students had already applied to present their research, and staff were reading their applications and abstracts.
Rather than simply cancel the event outright, Undergraduate Research Program staff surveyed students to learn if they would want to present their research in a virtual format. The demands and new realities of students’ research projects varied — some projects, for example, are on hold and cannot be moved forward remotely and others are able to continue remotely — yet students’ interest in presenting was overwhelmingly positive.
“I believe it is more important now than ever to have a feeling of pride in our community,” says Hank Cheng, UW senior majoring in biology. “I can’t think of something better than bringing together hundreds of scholars to share their accomplishments.”
Organizers committed themselves to maintaining a professional Symposium experience for student presenters and to creating learning opportunities along the way, just as they have done for past symposia. Students were given feedback on their abstracts, offered workshop opportunities to learn how to put together a presentation or poster, and encouraged to participate in practice sessions to test-drive their presentation.
“I’m just so impressed and excited by the way these students rose to this challenge,” says Jennifer Harris, director of the Undergraduate Research Program. “Our undergraduate researchers, working under the guidance of world-class mentors, demonstrate resilience, creativity and truly engaged learning.”
Harris also noted that one of the benefits of being online this year is that students’ friends and family from around the region, country and world will be able to tune in to their presentation.
As in years past, the Undergraduate Research Symposium showcases the diversity of undergraduate research, which spans politics to pediatrics, astrobiology to oceanography, history to computer science, engineering to education and more, showing that undergraduate creativity and scholarship truly is boundless.
Overview of the format and registration
The Symposium begins at 9 a.m., Pacific Daylight Time, and will run to about 4:30 p.m. UW President Cauce, Provost Mark Richards and UAA Vice Provost and Dean Ed Taylor have each recorded videos to welcome students and guests; congratulate undergraduates on their accomplishments; share who the recipients of the Research Mentor Awards are; and recognize the invaluable role mentors play in encouraging undergraduates to transform their education through research.
Students will present their research in one of these formats, all followed by a question and answer period:
- 3-minute poster presentation or lightning talk,
- 10-minute oral presentation,
- 5-minute visual arts and design presentation, or
- 15-minute performance presentation.
Registered guests will be able to access students’ abstracts and presentation times, watch presentations by students they specifically want to see, and explore and attend multiple sessions.
All presentations will be pre-recorded and played in real time, according to the event schedule; they will not be available for later viewing. Registration is required to attend this free event.
To view the sessions, register for the Symposium and make sure to set up a Zoom account if you do not already have one. Information about how to access the sessions and a detailed Symposium conference schedule will be emailed to registered attendees the week of Symposium.
Support undergraduate researchers
There are many ways to support undergraduates presenting their research.
Through undergraduate research, students contribute to groundbreaking work and gain the experience necessary to one day lead innovative research themselves. UW undergraduates are getting involved in research in increasing numbers — more than 9,000 students participated in research in 2017–18. More than 700 faculty, post-doc, research staff and graduate student mentors supported this year’s Symposium presenters through their research, helping students develop subject area knowledge, transferable skills and an entrepreneurial perspective that will prepare them for future employment, education and civic engagement.
Join the undergraduate research ecosystem by supporting the Symposium in these ways:
Attend the Symposium and ask questions. Register here and tell your friends.
Show your support on social. Invite your friends and family ahead of time, and then post and tweet about your experiences using #UWsymp. Incorporate a new avatar and images from the Symposium social media toolkit.
Make a gift. Because of the generosity of donors, our students can continue their research and stay on track in the face of unprecedented challenges.
Undergraduates to present research spanning academic disciplines on May 17, 2019
On Friday, May 17, more than 1,200 University of Washington undergraduates and visiting undergraduate student scholars will participate in the 22nd Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium — an event that is one of the largest of its kind in the nation.
The Symposium runs from 11 a.m.–6 p.m. on the UW Seattle campus. Students will present their research in poster, oral and performing arts sessions in Mary Gates Hall and Johnson Hall, and in a visual arts and design showcase in Odegaard Undergraduate Library (see event details below). UW Regent Constance Rice, Provost Mark Richards and Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs Ed Taylor are scheduled to provide opening remarks at 11 a.m. in Mary Gates Hall.
Through undergraduate research, students contribute to groundbreaking work and gain the experience necessary to one day lead innovative research themselves. UW undergraduates are getting involved in research in increasing numbers — more than 9,000 students participated in research in 2017–18. More than 1,000 faculty, post-doc, research staff and graduate student mentors supported this year’s Symposium presenters through their research, helping students develop subject area knowledge, transferable skills and an entrepreneurial perspective that will prepare them for future employment, education and civic engagement.
The Undergraduate Research Symposium showcases the diversity of undergraduate research, which spans all disciplines and addresses critical issues of our time. Students will share their research on topics as diverse and broad as: global warming and energy conservation; improving rocket performance; effects of mindfulness on new moms and their babies; Native American and Alaska Native experience in higher education; the study of Alzheimer’s disease; computer security; political meme responding to Brexit; birdsong evolution and so much more. The titles of students’ presentations give more detail about the range and complexity of their projects. A small sampling of titles include:
- Hopping and Grabbing Insect-Inspired Robot for Space Exploration
- Analysis of the Susceptibility of Smart Home Interfaces to End User Error
- The Art of Cultural Outreach
- Customizable Tactile Maps for the Visually-Impaired
- On the Social Ecology of Environmental Dance: Fostering Community Dialogue and Environmental Action
- A 3D Printed Microfluidic, Tumor Organoid Testing Platform for Personalized Cancer Care and Treatment
The Symposium is open to selected undergraduates from other institutions, and we are thrilled to welcome presenters from 32 other institutions in addition to McNair Scholar institutions, the Seattle Colleges, Bellevue College, Portland State University, Everett Community College and California State University San Marcos.
The Symposium is organized by Undergraduate Academic Affairs’ Undergraduate Research Program.
Event Details
What: The 22nd Annual Research Symposium at the University of Washington
Who: More than 1,200 inspiring undergraduates at UW presenting ground-breaking research and selected undergraduates from other institutions
When: Friday, May 17, 2019, 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Where: Mary Gates Hall, select rooms in Johnson Hall, and Odegaard Undergraduate Library
Plan ahead: See event schedule and search the Online Proceedings at symposium.uw.edu.
Undergraduates to present research spanning academic disciplines on May 18, 2018
On Friday, May 18, more than 1,200 University of Washington undergraduates and visiting undrgraduates student scholars will participate in the 21st Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium — an event that is one of the largest of its kind in the nation.
The Symposium runs from 11 a.m.–6 p.m. on the UW Seattle campus. Students will present their research in poster, oral and performing arts sessions in Mary Gates Hall and Johnson Hall, and in a visual arts and design showcase in Odegaard Undergraduate Library (see event details below). UW President Ana Mari Cauce is scheduled to provide opening remarks at 11 a.m. in Mary Gates Hall.
Through undergraduate research, students contribute to groundbreaking work and gain the experience necessary to one day lead innovative research themselves. UW undergraduates are getting involved in research in increasing numbers — more than 8,400 students participated in research in 2016–17. More than 1,000 faculty, post-doc, research staff and graduate student mentors supported this year’s Symposium presenters through their research, helping students develop subject area knowledge, transferable skills and an entrepreneurial perspective that will prepare them for future employment, education and civic engagement.
Students will share their research on topics as diverse and broad as better diagnosis of pediatric concussions; improving regional climate prediction; innovations in pain management; predicting tooth decay; gratitude in relation to adolescent mental health; the complexity of the canoe in Samoan culture; forensic anthropology; and much, much more.
The titles of students’ presentations gives more detail about the range and complexity of their projects. A small sampling of titles include:
- BrainNet: First Three-Person Brain-to-Brain Communication System
- Star Formation in Low Metallicity Environments
- Curation: A Performance
- My Work as an Artist and Designer on the DFL’s 3D Game, Hug the Line
- Forensic Anthropology and Human Rights in Latin America
The Symposium is open to selected undergraduates from other institutions, and we are thrilled to welcome presenters from 22 other institutions in addition to McNair Scholar institutions, the Seattle Colleges, Montana State University, Washington State University and the University of Victoria (complete list below).
The Symposium is organized by Undergraduate Academic Affairs’ Undergraduate Research Program.
Event Details
What: The 21st Annual Research Symposium at the University of Washington
Who: More than 1,200 inspiring undergraduates at UW presenting ground-breaking research and selected undergraduates from other institutions
When: Friday, May 18, 2018, 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Where: Mary Gates Hall, select rooms in Johnson Hall, and Odegaard Undergraduate Library
Plan ahead: See event schedule and search the Online Proceedings at symposium.uw.edu.
Institutions Represented
- Bellevue College
- Boise State University
- California State University San Marcos
- College of St. Scholastica
- Edmonds Community College
- Everett Community College
- Grays Harbor College
- Heritage University
- North Seattle College
- Pacific Lutheran University
- Pierce College
- Portland State University
- Shoreline Community College
- Seattle Pacific University
- South Seattle College
- Seattle Central College
- University of Nevada Las Vegas
- Wenatchee Valley College
- Western Washington University
- University of Puget Sound
- University of Wyoming
- Whitman College
Photos by David Ryder.
Undergraduates to present research spanning academic disciplines on May 15
The 18th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium will take place on May 15 and features more than 1,000 students presenting their research findings—an event that is among the largest of its kind in the nation.
A passion for East Asian diplomacy
Influenced by his South Korean background and international experience, senior Benjamin Lee hopes that his research or future career in diplomacy may one day contribute to peace in the region.
Undergraduate research to take over Mary Gates Hall on May 16
On Friday, May 16, more than 1,100 University of Washington undergraduates will participate in the 17th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium—an event that might well be the country’s largest “show and tell” for undergraduate research. The Symposium takes place from 11 a.m.–6 p.m. in Mary Gates Hall; select oral presentations will happen in Johnson Hall and visual arts and design presentations will be in Odegaard Undergraduate Library.
There’s no one way to be a Husky
Nearly 30,000 undergraduates at the UW means 30,000 individual ways to be a Husky. The UW offers students countless opportunities to bring their academics beyond the classroom, grow as leaders, contribute to research, become global citizens, and serve our communities near and far. Learn about some particularly meaningful student experiences.