(April 17, 2018) -- As San Antonio’s multicultural discovery enterprise, The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) is gearing up for its largest show-and-tell event of the year. Organized by the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR), the Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry Showcase will highlight undergraduate student research and creative endeavors from all disciplines on Thursday, April 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Convocation Center on the UTSA Main Campus. Topics range from smart energy systems to gender roles, from borderlands to historic places, and the science of mind, body and soul.
The Showcase gives many undergraduate students their first opportunity to share their research in an academic setting and explain their methodology and findings to peers and faculty. Students have the opportunity to jump-start their academic curriculum vitae (CV), and network and learn from one another.
“We want to engage as many UTSA undergraduates in the research enterprise, whether it is applying for a scholarship, lab placement, externship, summer program or independent research opportunity, ideally in their first year. The Showcase gives a taste of what’s possible when you do get involved and we hope it inspires other students to follow suit,” said Thomas Coyle, director of the UTSA Office of Undergraduate Research.
The entire UTSA community is encouraged to attend the Showcase. Student attendees can participate as peer judges by engaging with undergraduates who are presenting their research and honing their presentations skills. By critiquing two research posters, student attendees receive a free t-shirt and lunch.
Faculty and postdoctoral students are invited to sign-up as formal judges who evaluate the student presenters and help them develop their research skills. Student presentations will be judged by a faculty member or specialist in their respective field of study. The top three presentations from each college (Architecture, Business, Education, Engineering, Liberal & Fine Arts, Public Policy, Sciences, and Honors College will be selected to receive the Best-in-Show award. Award winners will be invited to attend the OUR. Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry Showcase Best-in-Show Awards ceremony May 4.
Mentorship is a key element in developing a research mindset and ensuring student success. As such, notable faculty mentors are recognized at the annual event. This year, Mark T. Leung from the UTSA College of Business and Pranav A. Bhounsule of the UTSA College of Engineering are being honored for the Faculty Mentor Award for Undergraduate Research. They have demonstrated a strong track record of sustained involvement with undergraduates who pursue and benefit from undergraduate research.
A tenured professor and department chair of the Department of Management Science and Statistics,Leung has mentored numerous student teams over the years who have participated and been recognized at the Showcase. Many of his students have moved on to graduate programs such as the M.S. in Data Analytics, Statistics and Data Science, M.B.A. and others. He has also collaborated with faculty members to develop an array of predictive models for UTSA student attrition, providing meaningful data and insights to address this issue and potentially shape future policy.
A robotic specialist and assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bhounsule has mentored 45 undergraduate students in diverse research experiences over the past three and half years. He has been active in recruiting and mentoring underrepresented students, with many pursuing graduate studies. His students have found numerous placements in military and industry laboratories and success in juried competitions, grant awards and scholarships.
STEM-focused participants are encouraged to submit their research posters to the upcoming SACNAS conference taking place in San Antonio October 11-13, 2018. All participating students should consider submitting their research as a journal article to UTSA Journal of Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Works (JURSW).
UTSA is ranked among the top four universities in the nation under 50 years old, according to Times Higher Education.
Learn more about the UTSA Office of Undergraduate Research.
Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
The UTSA Office of Undergraduate is proud to celebrate National Undergraduate Research with an annual event sponsored by the (OUR) featuring students will showcase undergraduate student research and creative endeavors from all disciplines across campus.
Various LocationsDía en la Sombrilla, formerly Fiesta UTSA, is a festival hosted each spring as a part of Fiesta® San Antonio events. Sponsored by Roadrunner Productions, the event features music, food, confetti, games, event t-shirts, and more.
Sombrilla Plaza and Central Plaza, Main CampusFiesta Arts Fair features contemporary art from more than 100 artists from across the U.S., Fiesta favorite foods, drinks, live music by local and regional performers, and a Young Artists Garden providing opportunities for budding artists to learn, explore and express their creativity.
UTSA Southwest CampusJoin the PEACE Center and Wellbeing Services for Denim Day, a day of learning about the importance of consent and why we wear denim on the last Wednesday of the month each April during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Stop by our Denim Day display to take a photo in front of our Denim Wall, spin the "Is It Consent?" Wheel, and get a Concha or goodie.
Student Union Window Lounge, Main CampusLearn to use Zotero®, a citation manager that can help you store and organize citations you find during your research. Zotero can generate bibliographies in various styles, insert in-text citations and allow you to share sources with collaborators.
Virtual EventThis event is to achnowlege the graduating seniors and induct the new cohart of scholars to our program.
North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140,) Main CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.
AlamodomeThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
