Research and Creative Activities Symposium broader than before

With two new awards, abstract publication and a stellar lineup of speakers and guests, the 2006 Research and Creative Activities Symposium promises to be more outstanding than ever. The annual event featuring the outstanding works of UCD downtown Denver campus students will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 14 in the North Classroom Atrium.

Additional awards include the Outstanding Student Research and Creative Activities to be given to two graduate students and two undergraduates. Winners will receive $250 and will be invited to present their scholarly work at the morning general session just after the keynote speaker. Students must be nominated by faculty to be eligible.

In addition, faculty members will be up for the Outstanding Faculty Mentoring Award, honoring a faculty member or department that exemplifies an extraordinary commitment to engaging students in scholarly activity.

Lissa Gallagher, director of the Career Center and event organizer, notes that for the first time, all abstracts will be published in the Symposium Proceedings that will be distributed at the event.

“We are anticipating a larger turnout this year with more presenters and more campus and community participants,” she says.  The keynote address will be given by  Ann-Barrie Hunter, who will speak on “Evaluation and Assessment of Undergraduate Research Programs.”

Featured speaker Gary Hart, former senator and director of the GSPA Wirth Chair, will discuss “Knowledge in the Revolutionary World of the Early 21st Century,” and special guest Michael Carrigan, regent, will be on hand to view student exhibits and address the audience.

The exhibits at the 2005 Research and Creative Activities Day were as unique and remarkable as the students who created and presented them. About 300 people from the campus and metro community convened at the North Classroom Atrium on to check out a diverse range of presentations. Last year, 41 exhibits involving 78 student authors and co-authors and faculty mentors, were available for viewing.

The mission of the Research and Creative Activities Symposium is to promote and showcase the scholarly activities of undergraduate and graduate students, celebrate the creative process, foster professional development through academic excellence, promote and showcase collaborative efforts among students and faculty, encourage interdisciplinary scholarly activities, establish and build connections with the community, and celebrate and foster diversity at UCD.

Research and Creative Activities Symposium is sponsored by the Office of the Provost, Division of Sponsored Programs Administration and the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. This year's event also received significant support from the CLAS departments of biology and psychology as well as Student Government on the downtown Denver campus.