URC 2008 Student Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is URC?
- Why should I present at the Undergraduate Research Conference?
- Who "sponsors" URC?
- Who attends the URC?
- Where can I view a list of who and what was presented at URC?
- Do I need to be a senior to register? Can I register as a graduate student?
- What are the costs to register and to present for the URC?
- Who do I talk to about presenting at URC?
- What types of research do students present?
- Do I need to have my research completed by December 1st? By the March 9th deadline?
- Do I register myself or does my professor register for me?
- What if my research project is the work of more than one student? Can we register all our names?
- How do I know which event to register for?
- Can I register for more than one event? Can I register for events at UNH Manchester and UNH Durham?
- Where can I get help with a poster or PowerPoint presentation?
- How do I know I entered all my information correctly?
- I want to change my final presentation title or edit my personal information – do I have the ability to edit my registration information?
- Can I invite my family and friends to watch me present at the URC?
1. What is URC?
The annual UNH Undergraduate Research Conference casts a spotlight on the research and scholarship of undergraduates from all of UNH's schools and colleges, and features symposia, events, performances, and awards. The conference gives students a venue for the important final step in any research, creative, or scholarly project, presenting the results to a broad audience. With twenty-four events and hundreds of presenters, this UNH conference, now in its ninth year, is one of the largest and most diverse of its kind, showcasing student work from disciplines across the academic spectrum, from history and music, to engineering, microbiology, and beyond.
FOR AN OVERVIEW AND A PEEK AT THE URC EXCITEMENT, VIEW THE 3-MINUTE URC VIDEO
2. Why should I present at the Undergraduate Research Conference?
Presenting at the Undergraduate Research Conference lets you put the finishing touch on your research, creative, service learning, or capstone project. You'll prepare your findings and present them before a wide audience of faculty, administrators, friends, and family. In the process, you'll gain valuable professional skills for your career or continued education. What's more, you'll have the chance to receive awards and scholarships. Last year, more than $24,000 was awarded in scholarships for outstanding URC presentations (click to view winners).
NOTE: Students presenting at the 2007 URC were surveyed last spring. Ninety-one percent of URC participants said that faculty mentoring positively influenced their educational experience. For more detailed results of what students said about their URC participation and their faculty mentors, please read the URC Evaluation white paper (coming soon).
3. Who "sponsors" URC?
Although the URC does not have one specific sponsor, the Office of the Associate Vice President for Research and Outreach Scholarship serves as the administrative office for the URC. In truth, the URC is a campus wide collaborative network of UNH Community members who bring the conference to fruition each year. Click on the top blue tab for URC Community to view the numerous individuals and organizations making active contributions to the URC.
4. Who attends the URC?
Faculty, fellow students, parents and other family, friends, the general UNH community, alumni, the general public, and visitors from local and regional business communities and government offices.
5. Where can I view a list of who and what was presented at URC?
The 2007 URC Program Booklet is available by clicking the blue Archive tab on the URC web site. It lists student presenters by event. The 2008 URC Program Booklet will be available to view on the URC web site after April 11, 2008.
6. Do I need to be a senior to register? Can I register as a graduate student?
No, any undergraduate student is welcome to register. Graduate students can be part of the research team, but the actual presentation needs to be done by an undergraduate student. If you are a graduate student wishing to present, please check out the UNH Graduate Research Conference (GRC) which will be held Thursday, April 17, 2008 at the Memorial Union Building (MUB). (The GRC web site is under construction; for immediate information, contact jessieknapp@gmail.com).
7. What are the costs to register and to present for the URC?
There is no registration fee for URC. However, if you are presenting a poster or PowerPoint oral presentation, costs for the production and/or printing of your presentation materials are the responsibility of the student presenter. For more information about poster production services, visit the URC web site Poster Page.
8. Who do I talk to about presenting at URC?
Questions about your research or discipline, consult your faculty adviser. Questions about a specific URC event, contact the Event Coordinator or event descriptions for specific event details.
General questions about URC, contact Lynne Cooper at (603) 862-2488 or Lynne.Cooper@unh.edu
9. What types of research do students present?
Refer to the 2007 URC Program Booklet and the 2007 URC Winners of Awards of Excellence under the blue top tab URC Archive.
10. Do I need to have my research completed by December 1st? By the March 7th deadline?
No, your research does not have to be completed in order to register for the 2008 URC. Registration opens in December and closes March 7th 2008. Research and presentation materials (poster, oral, film, paper, performance or other format) must be complete for presentation at the event for which you have registered – see Calendar of Events for dates, location and times of events. Most URC events are scheduled between April 18-26, 2008.
11. Do I register myself or does my professor register for me?
Students are encouraged to register themselves. If you are uncertain, talk to your faculty adviser about who will be registering your presentation. Registration is free and takes only minutes to do. Please note: only COLSA students can register for the COLSA URC.
12. What if my research project is the work of more than one student? Can we register all our names?
Yes, you can register more than one name (or "author") per presentation. The registration database can accommodate multiple authors (up to fifty), however only one student from the team must be designated to input registration information for the entire group. This student will need to provide specific information about each author (presenter) – i.e. name, email address, status, major, presentation title and faculty advisor.
13. How do I know which event to register for?
Students who are interested in presenting at more than one venue are strongly encouraged to consider presenting at the Parents Association Undergraduate Research Symposium and/or the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Symposium (ISE). You can consult your faculty advisor on the type of events offered. You can also review the event descriptions on the URC web site.
14. Can I register for more than one event? Can I register for events at UNH Manchester and UNH Durham?
Yes, you can register for more than one event, at either or both campuses – Manchester or Durham. Review FAQ #13 above, check with your faculty advisor and review the event descriptions on the URC web site
15. Where can I get help with a poster or PowerPoint presentation?
There are several ways to get help with your presentation.
- Visit Posters on the URC "Find It Fast" menu for several guides on making posters, a gallery of posters to view and a list of printing resources. COMING SOON – the full edition of a comprehensive ONLINE TUTORIAL (new last year) on How to Create a POSTER with PowerPoint.
- Oral Presentations, students can consult the "Find It Fast" menu to review Oral Presentation Tips.
16. How do I know I entered all my information correctly?
You will receive a confirmation email after you complete your registration. Please carefully review all the information you entered for accuracy, as it will be used in all communications and the printed URC Program Booklet. Your faculty adviser(s) will also receive a copy of this registration confirmation email.
17. I want to change my final presentation title or edit my personal information – do I have the ability to edit my registration information?
No, you need to communicate any changes to the Program Coordinator, by emailing (preferred) Lynne Cooper at Lynne.Cooper@unh.edu or calling 862-2488.
18. Can I invite my family and friends to watch me present at the URC?
Yes! It's simple – just click URC Email Invitation on the Find It Fast right side menu on the URC web site, log on and use the electronic invitation to send an email invitation to friends, family, professors and other guests.
