ÌðÐÄÊÓƵapp

 

 

The Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Works is hosting the annual ÌðÐÄÊÓƵapp Fall Undergraduate Symposium on November 12, 2025. Undergraduate students with outstanding research or creative endeavors will be accepted into this selective Symposium based on the application and abstract submission.

 

Research and Creative Excellence Awards is run in conjunction with Fall Symposium. Most entries that are selected will be finalists for the Excellence Awards. Category winners will receive a $100 gift card or equivalent, if eligible for a monetary award. If there are multiple presenters, the prize will be split. Note: Additional poster presentations may be accepted to present at the Symposium, but will not be considered for the Research and Creative Excellence Awards.

 

If NCUR funding is available for ÌðÐÄÊÓƵapp students, then all students who apply for the Symposium will also be considered for funding to present at National Conference of Undergraduate Research (NCUR, April 13-15, 2026, in Richmond, Virginia), if selected.

 

All presenters must be currently enrolled, full time, degree-seeking undergraduate students. No graduate students nor faculty may be listed as a presenter, nor participate in the presentation.

 

Each presenter must provide the name of a ÌðÐÄÊÓƵapp faculty or staff sponsor. The sponsor will be emailed following submission of this application, and must reply with their confirmation that they are the sponsor for the presentation.

 

Research Poster Presentations

Poster sessions involve displaying a visual representation of the research project on a large poster including a mixture of text with tables, graphs, and pictures to present your findings in a visually interesting and accessible way. This will serve as a tool to prompt discussion with colleagues during a 1 hour poster session. Students stand by their posters to discuss their work with conference attendees and answer questions. Items typically included: Title, Authors, Abstract, Introduction, Materials & Methods, Results, Discussion, Acknowledgments, and References. All students listed as presenters on the poster and on the application must be present for the entire 1 hour poster session. Student presenters should be prepared to give a 5 minute overview of their poster and then ask for questions, and will repeat their presentation multiple times during the 1 hour poster session.

Student must print their own poster.  Maximum size of the poster is 48" x 48". Recommended size is 36" tall x 48" wide.
Printing information for printing posters: /academic-engagement/aew/for-attendees.aspx

Visual Arts Displays 

Max size of 30-inch width x 40-inch height for displaying on board or may be propped on an easel. Please bring hangers for affixing to board, and 20 inches width x 20 inch height x 20-inch depth for displaying on table.

Students can showcase their research or creative projects through visual arts displays, which may include paintings, sculptures, photography, digital art, and other visual media. Note: If selected into NCUR Conference - Please consider standard shipping box sizes and weight restrictions when considering the piece (e.g.  or ) 

Oral Presentations

These are traditional presentations where students present their research findings or projects to an audience using PowerPoint slides or other visual aids. Each presenter is allotted a 12-minute time slot for their talk, followed by a 3 minute Q&A session. A laptop will be provided loaded with PowerPoint. 

Performance Art Presentations

Scheduled in a series of other oral presentations with a 12-minute presentation (to include sharing of live version or recording of performance) with 3 minutes Q&A. 

This category allows students to present research or creative projects through performances, such as musical performances, theatrical acts, dance routines, spoken word, or other artistic expressions. Note: If live performance is preferred, we encourage students to provide needed musicians, actors, dancers, readers, etc. as presenters and/or co-presenters as part of their submission. Alternatively, please plan to pre-record the performance piece so it can be shared in a digital format during the presentation. 

Research and Creative Excellence Awards

At Fall Undergraduate Symposium, all presenters selected to present in the Symposium will be finalists for Research and Creative Excellence Awards. Note: Additional poster presentations may be selected to participate in the event, but these will not be eligible for award consideration. Announcements regarding finalist selection will happen approximately 2 weeks prior to the event.

First place will be presented in each of the four categories. The judging criteria will be posted on the website. First place presenters will receive a $100 gift card, pending Office of Financial Aid eligibility review. If the presentation includes multiple students, all students must be undergraduate level, and the $100 prize will be split. If the presentation includes more than 4 presenters, only the lead presenter will receive the gift card, which will be designated for covering expenses for the presentation preparation.

Honorable mentions may also be selected and awarded $50 gift cards. 

   

NCUR Selection

The Office of Undergraduate Research will cover all conference expenses for the selected ÌðÐÄÊÓƵapp Undergraduate students to attend the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), April 13-15, 2026, in Richmond, Virginia). The number and make up of student selection will be determined based on the current OUR budget and will include a diversity of students and disciplines. 

The candidates chosen at the Research Symposium to attend NCUR will be asked to submit their abstracts to NCUR. The selected candidates will work with the Office of Undergraduate Research to edit their abstract with the final version of their abstract due no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 19th, 2025 to Office of Undergraduate Research (our@unco.edu), and students will be assisted in their submission to the NCUR application site.