The 2017 symposium will take place December 2, 2017 from 12 pm - 4 pm.

Do you currently have a project you are working on for a lab, class, or senior project? Have you completed a project or have interesting preliminary findings? Want to learn about scholarly discourse and sharing scientific findings with your peers? If you answered yes to any of these questions, the 2017 Symposium for Undergraduate Research at UCSC may serve as an awesome opportunity for you!

We welcome students who have completed or are working on research projects in a wide variety of topics and fields to apply. The symposium will feature both oral and poster presentations by students across different departments.

What is a symposium?

A symposium is an event where "experts" come together to speak about a particular topic. In this case, the undergraduate research symposium is an event where undergraduates will come together to talk about the research they are involved in while in a formal academic setting.

When/where will the symposium take place?

The 2017 Symposium for Undergraduate Research will be a one-day event, occurring on Saturday, December 2, from 12 pm - 4 pm. It will take place in the Stevenson Fireside Lounge.

What will happen during the symposium?

Of the students who apply, we will select 6 undergraduate oral presentations and approximately 15 undergraduate poster presentations through a blind review process. A panel of judges will decide the top oral and poster presentations, and awards will be given out to each. Refreshments and snacks will be provided. The entire event will last approximately 4 hours.

How do I enter my presentation?

To enter your presentation, use the submission portal

There, enter all of the required information, including the title, authors, and abstract. You may only apply once; your email address will be recorded.

What should my presentation be like?

We have compiled guidelines for creating a successful application and a successful presentation on the Project Guidelines page. To learn more about putting together a talk or poster presentation, visit the Presentation Formats subpage

Review Criteria:

Projects will be judged based on the following criteria:

1. Clarity of presentation.
2. Soundness of research.
3. Potential to contribute to knowledge.
4. Potential for applied impacts.
5. (Optional) Credibility of research— do you have a faculty member supporting or sponsoring your project?