Discovery on Display: UTSA undergrads showcase research and creative projects April 23
(April 22, 2015) – Nearly 400 UTSA students will display their academic achievements at a Texas-sized research fair this week. The university's second annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry Showcase will include innovation, research and creative scholarship displays in science, health and technology, liberal arts, business, architecture and public policy, and education.
The UTSA Office of Undergraduate Research began the annual showcase last year to celebrate the top-tier work underway by UTSA undergraduate students. More than 200 UTSA undergraduates participated in the inaugural showcase. Their projects included virtual reality video games, Rube Goldberg machines and traditional research posters on a variety of topics such as breast cancer and communication theory.
"Attending a university where you can conduct research as early as the freshman year is a valuable opportunity for an undergraduate student," said Donovan Fogt, director of the UTSA Office of Undergraduate Research and associate professor in the UTSA Department of Kinesiology, Health and Nutrition. "This showcase gives our current and prospective students an opportunity to see all of the different kinds of research paths they can pursue at UTSA."
In addition to the student research projects on display, UTSA students were encouraged to submit to the forum community-based research projects, service-learning projects, and projects derived from work through unpaid internships and independent study courses.
"The students who will have work on display at the showcase have spent significant amounts of time and effort outside the classroom to complete impactful projects in their areas of interest. That perseverance and the new skills they gained will make them extremely competitive job candidates once they graduate," said Fogt. "This showcase is a celebration of their accomplishments."
During the showcase, the UTSA Career Center will help students polish their resumes. Employment scouts from business and industry will also attend to peruse the showcase for possible hires.
UTSA Professor of Sociology Harriett Romo and UTSA Burzik Professor in Engineering Design Heather Shipley will receive the UTSA Office of Undergraduate Research's second annual Faculty Service to Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry Awards at the event. The awards honor UTSA faculty members for extraordinary dedication in creating meaningful research opportunities for undergraduate students.
The Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry Showcase is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 23 in the Convocation Center on the UTSA Main Campus. UTSA President Ricardo Romo will deliver brief welcoming remarks at the fair at 11 a.m. The event is free and open to the public.
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Events
This event will acknowledge graduating seniors from the McNair Scholars program at UTSA before inducting the new cohort of scholars into the program.
North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140), Main CampusAt this memorable celebration, UTSA graduates will be introduced one-by-one to cross the stage and accept their doctoral degrees.
Arts Building Recital Hall, Main CampusRoadrunner Walk is an event for graduating students to have a memorable walk on campus to celebrate an important milestone and their achievements. Graduates will walk along the Paseo while being celebrated by the UTSA community, friends, and family members.
Student Union Paseo, Main CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.