Join us in celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Undergraduate Research Symposium this year on May 22, 2025. This event invites presentations from undergraduate students engaged in research across all academic areas, creative works, and artistic pursuits! We encourage you to consider research as a form of exploration - whether it's uncovering new ideas, experimenting with innovation expressions, or delving into untold stories. Research is the foundation for both intellectual and creative discovery, and not simply a requirement for lab-based disciplines. No completed data or conclusions are necessary for participation in the symposium.

To present at the Undergraduate Research Symposium, you must meet the following criteria:

• Mentorship: Presenters must have a research mentor or be participating in a course, ARC, FIG, or academic program. Mentors may be faculty, graduate students, lab managers, post doctoral scholars, program supervisors, or community members directly involved with the project
• Enrollment: Presenters must be currently enrolled at the University of Oregon, Lane Community College, Central Oregon Community College, Umpqua Community College, a visiting McNair Scholar, or visiting undergraduate student with a UO academic program
• IRB Approval: If your project involves human subjects, IRB approval is required (please check with your research mentor)

• University of Oregon Student
• Non-UO student (additional field will appear for institutional information) 
• University ID# (required for UO students only) 

• First Name 
• Last Name 
• Grad Year 
• Your Email Address at School 

Participants can present as an individual, a co-presenting team (comprised of up to four total individuals), or within the course based category (10 total maximum presenters). Please keep in mind that individuals who are not part of the presentation can still be credited with authorship as well as on presentation platform (i.e. poster, PowerPoint, artwork etc).

1. Individual Presenter
2. Co-Presentation
   • For groups of up to four total individuals (form submitter + 3 co-presenters max) working together on a single project with one presentation title
   • Designate one person from the group to submit the participation registration form
     • This person will need the institutional email addresses of each co-presenters
     • NOTE: a follow up email will be sent to each co-presenter listed, to submit their individual information within 24-hours of the primary participation registration
   • Additional individuals involved in the research project, who are not co-presenting, may be credited with authorship in the designated space provided on the form and within the presentation platform (e.g. poster, slide deck)
3. Course-Based category is for presenters within the same course where the entire class is collaborating on a single project
   • Up to ten total individuals (including the primary form submitter) may be registered to present
   • The project must be overseen by a faculty mentor or course instructor
   • Designate one person from the course group to complete the form on behalf of the team (with abstract/statement) 
     • This person will need the institutional email addresses of each co-presenter 
     • NOTE: a follow up email will be sent to each co-presenter listed, to submit their individual information within 24-hours of the primary participation registration submission
   • Additional individuals involved in the research project, who are not co-presenting, may be credited with authorship in the designated space provided on the form and within the presentation platform (e.g. poster, slide deck)

Different than co-presenters. Co-authors are students who will not present with you at the Symposium but were involved in the work and will be noted on the poster or presentation. You may list up to five individuals. Do you have any co-authors you would like to credit?  

• Yes
• No 

If “Yes” is selected, a field will appear to indicate the number of co-authors and to add their information, including email address. Please ensure that you have the information prior to filling out the form. 

For those who select the virtual presentation option, presenters will have the opportunity to submit a recording to be posted on the Undergraduate Research Symposium YouTube channel. All other presentations will be in-person at the EMU, May 22, 2025. 

• In Person
• Virtual

Review the Presentation Formats Overview page and select the presentation type(s) for your research project. You can select multiple forms (e.g. poster and oral) for the same project title. If you are presenting two separate research projects with a different title and statement/abstract, please submit a separate form. If Creative Works or Film Screening is selected, a field will appear to add details about your planned presentation.

• Poster
• Oral
• Creative Work
• Film Screening
• Works in Progress: Lightning Rounds (must be in-person)

Make your selection(s) based on the relevant field of study for your research. This is not your Major field. The information will be used to determine presentation session groupings within similar subject areas. Review the options and choose carefully. You may make more than one selection by holding down CTRL key. An "Other" field is offered (at the bottom) to input a subject area not shown on the list.

There is a 100 character limit. The title should clearly indicate the nature of the research performed. Use keywords, and do not use abbreviations, acronyms or chemical formulas. 

The form submitter must provide a presentation title and brief synopsis of the project. The individual completing this form will be required to submit a presentation title and brief synopsis statement of the project. Your description should be like a movie trailer: it should give an overview of your project and spark the audience's curiosity. Keep the title (up to 100 characters) clear, concise, and reflective of the core idea, suitable for a general audience.

Submissions should range from 1200 - 1500 characters in length (including spaces), equivalent to 250 to 350 will be included in all symposium materials. Whether submitting an abstract, artist or author statement, aim for language that is accessible to diverse audience - ranging from field experts to those less familiar with your area of research. 

NOTE: Please proofread your submission as this information will be transferred, verbatim, to the program book.

Find Tips for Writing Your Abstract, Artist Overview or Project Summary

The final Abstract or Artist Statement of your presentation or project, will be printed in the symposium materials and may be highlighted on the Symposium YouTube Channel with recordings (for UO virtual presenters)

Structure:

• Introductory sentence(s)
• Statement of hypothesis, thesis, purpose, or question of study
• General methods, procedures, sources, or media used
• Primary results, findings or arguments
• Primary conclusion/implication of the work
• General statement of the significance of the research or creative work

Artist Statement Structure May Additionally Include:

• Medium, materials and methods
• Subject matter
• Relationship between your concept and materials

Identify any funding sources for your research or any centers, institutes, classes, programs, departments or colleges your research may be affiliated with.

List the research or faculty mentor who has provided guidance to your research (helped develop your research skills, topic, methods, or abstract). The individual may be a faculty, staff, graduate student, post-doctoral fellow, community or industry member.  You will need to note the name, title/position, department affiliation, institution email address, in the fields on the next page. 

• I have one mentor who I would like listed
• I have two mentors who I would like listed 

The Undergraduate Research Symposium is a signature event and will have photographers, videographers, and recorded content during the event. Additionally, some content from the event will be shared on the Undergraduate Research Symposium YouTube channel. We require all participants to sign a model release, allowing us to share content from the event and your presentations on our website and YouTube channel. The following is the release you'll be signing:

I, the undersigned, irrevocably grant the University of Oregon permission to publish, republish, adapt, exhibit, reproduce, modify, make derivative works, distribute, or display my name, image, voice, written testimony, and biographical information in connection with any university product or service. This permission applies to all markets and in any media or technology now known or hereafter developed. The university may exercise any of these rights itself or through any commercial or nonprofit successors, transferees, or licensees.  

I waive any right to inspect or approve any work that bears my name, image, voice, written testimony, and biographical information.  Please indicate agreement by signing below, using your mouse or touch screen. Any releasee under age eighteen must have parent or guardian co-signature. 

• 18 or older 
• 17 or younger (signature must be from parent or guardian) 

Additional information about the symposium can be found at urds.uoregon.edu/symposium. Questions? Email: ugresearch@uoregon.edu.

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