Graduate students interested in showcasing their research are invited to submit abstracts to the Graduate Student Assembly by 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 6 for consideration for the 14th annual Research and Thesis Conference.
The conference will be held Oct. 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Shelby Hall. UA graduate students across disciplines are invited to submit their research for consideration.
Registrants can display posters and give seminar presentations, which should last around 15 minutes and allow time for questions at the end.
A primary goal of the conference is to allow graduate students a chance to practice the communication of their research to a general audience, Joseph Meany, vice president for Research and Thesis Conferences for the GSA, said.
Meany, a doctoral student studying chemistry, said the GSA also aims to foster a greater sense of a community among graduate students on campus by allowing students to share their research with one another.
“I hope to see this as a jumping-off point for more interdepartmental communication,” he said.
Andrew Greff, a master’s student in mechanical engineering, said that in his experience, the graduate student population already seems close.
“We all help each other without hesitation, whether it be homework or research. We loan each other our equipment, too, to help others finish. We even work with other disciplines without issue,” Greff said.
Rosalind Moore, director of Graduate Student Services, said there are three primary benefits to student participation in the conference.
First, she said, is the chance for students to learn about one another’s work.
“The GSA Research and Thesis Conference is a great opportunity for graduate students to come together in an interdisciplinary nature and learn about each other’s academic endeavors,” Moore said.
Moore also said the conference will present a good testing ground for the projects.
“This conference gives graduate students the opportunity to hone their presentations and perfect any loose ends in their research before taking them off to major national and international arenas within their field,” she said.
The final benefit to attending the conference is the possibility of monetary reward. First, second and third places in the both the seminar presentations and the posters will receive monetary prizes. Moore said these prizes are intended to help defray the cost of attending academic conferences.
All graduate students participating in research are invited to submit abstracts by 5 p.m. on Oct. 6. Abstracts should be between 250 to 300 words in length, and any posters included should measure 36 by 48 inches. Students can pay $7 to register at sa.tix.com or email Joseph Meany at [email protected] for more information.
