About MURS

The Macquarie University Undergraduate Research Society (MURS) is a new, unaffiliated student group aiming to promote undergraduate participation in research across all disciplines.

By marketing ourselves as an undergraduate research society, we fill a much needed niche for undergraduate students interested in research.

Currently, most research-related resources available to Macquarie students are for Higher Degree Research (HDR) students. This is despite many undergraduate students being interested in research, and the large bridge between undergraduate and postgraduate research.

We hope to provide a welcoming and approachable space for undergraduate students to join the conversation about research. MURS is open to ALL, including postgraduate students, staff, and community members.

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Our Values

Research-Informed Practice

At MURS, we practice what we preach. Research informs and influences everything we do as a society, both individually and collectively. We strive to develop high quality, evidence-based resources and content for our members. Each volunteer at MURS is expected to conduct appropriate research for all tasks.

Accessibility

The main goal of MURS is to improve the accessibility of research, and all things academia, for undergraduate students. All too often, universities are so preoccupied with selling degrees that they neglect to provide adequate support for students who choose to enrol. We want to break down the barriers created by scientific jargon, paywalls, and institutional bureaucracy that prevent many students from engaging with academia.

A Commitment to Improving Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

We want every student to feel like they belong in research. At MURS, we're working to make research more inclusive by creating space for different perspectives and challenging the barriers that stop people from getting involved. We know there’s always more to learn, and we’re committed to listening, reflecting, and doing better.

Research in Practice

As part of upholding our value of research-informed practice, MURS executives and volunteers conduct appropriate research while completing every task. To highlight the ubiquitous nature of research in everything we do here at MURS, we’ve decided to share a few examples of how research has been involved in the creation of our resources.

Colour Palettes

“As accessibility and inclusion are core values of MURS, when ensured that our branding, website, and social media content comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). The WCAG are international standards designed to make online content more accessible for people with disabilities. In practice, this means ensuring that all text always has an adequate level of contrast with the background.”

- President, 2026

Fonts

“Part of creating the MURS website was choosing which fonts were the best fit for our members. Given MURS’s focus on equity and inclusion, I wanted the font used for the main body of text on the website to be as accessible as possible. After conducting some research, I settled on using the Atkinson Hyperlegible Next font, which was specifically designed for people with low vision and follows similar design principles to fonts designed to be dyslexia-friendly.”

- Director of IT, 2026

Tone and Language

“MURS applies research to make the website’s content as clear and easy to navigate as possible. This involves testing different ways of presenting information and choosing language that communicates complex ideas simply without losing their meaning. The team looks at how headings, explanations, and examples are structured to ensure they make sense to students from a range of academic backgrounds. By grounding these choices in continuously sought after feedback and reviewing the academic literature, MURS is on a mission to ensure that complex research concepts are translated into content that is approachable, readable, and user-friendly for everyone using the site.”

- Director of Engagement, 2026

Resource Creation

“At MURS, we focus on curating material that will genuinely help undergraduate students explore and prepare for research pathways. We place priority on reliable resources that explain where to find opportunities, how to pursue them, and which skills are useful. We use a student-centred approach and look for content that is practical, accessible, and, above all, relevant across disciplines. We draw on university, research entities, and professional sources to ensure credibility. We consider timing and accessibility strategically, so students can prepare early and take confident steps .”

- Director of Careers, 2026

Resource Evaluation

“As part of its research-informed practice, MURS carefully evaluates the resources it creates to ensure they meet high standards. This process involves reviewing relevant literature and examining similar programs to see what has proven effective in other contexts. The team also gathers direct feedback from students and early-career professionals to closely evaluate how these materials apply to real-world scenarios. Using research in this way ensures that every resource is accurate, clear, and genuinely useful, while allowing the team to refine and update materials to better meet the evolving needs of its student users.”