If people roaming campus decked out in business-professional clothing or holding large posters and racing across campus to get to an unknown destination were spotted last Thursday, chances are they were preparing to present at the Undergraduate Research Symposium.
The Undergraduate Research Symposium was held on Thursday at the Illini Union in Illini Rooms A, B and C. It featured a combination of oral and poster presentations on topics ranging from computer engineering to brain psychology.
The symposium was one research-focused event among many others this week, including workshops for those interested in research and presenting at the symposium and research expositions for specific colleges on campus.
“I love the overlap between architecture and helping the environment, but not only the environment but the health and well-being of people who occupy the buildings,” said junior in FAA, Sasha Reese.
Reese was encouraged to apply to present because, as a James Scholar, the requirements of both the honors project and the symposium were similar. Therefore, she said it was a great way for her to discuss what she is passionate about with people who may have similar interests.
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Ella Schuch, senior in LAS, said the application process was straightforward and easily accessible to anyone interested in presenting at the symposium.
“For the Undergraduate Research Symposium, it was filling out a form, essentially, with a short abstract of my research and whether you want to do an oral presentation,” Schuch said.
A big part of preparing for presenting at the symposium is making sure that the topic is digestible to those who may not be as knowledgeable or familiar with the topic that is being discussed, said sophomore in Engineering Parthiv Adimulam.
Although Adimulam’s research team has relatively new research, the opportunity to present at the symposium was too big to pass up.
“I think it’s pretty cool because I have never actually presented research,” Adimulam said. “Seeing it grow from a small project to something we are presenting and other people can see is cool.”
For Schuch, the opportunity to present is a more personal achievement and something that she sees herself growing both personally and professionally in.
“I have been involved in research in different ways at this University throughout my four years here, but I have never gotten the chance to present any of my own research,” Schuch said. “It means a lot for me in terms of building confidence and connecting with other researchers.”
Being able to present something that you have spent a lot of time perfecting and are passionate about is a special opportunity and something that may not be advertised, but being in programs like the James Scholar program exposes students to such possibilities, Reese said.
“Hopefully this (research) will be my career,” Reese said.“This is what I want to do and the type of buildings I want to build.”
Preparing to present at the symposium or gathering the courage to submit research to present is not a feat completed alone; Schuch said research supervisors play a crucial role in the process. Her research supervisor, Eleanor Junkins, has been really supportive in helping her pursue both her individual interests, like clinical psychology, and also areas of psychology that she is not as familiar with.
Although presenting at the symposium may seem inaccessible and reserved for those who excel, Adimulam expressed that the symposium is full of students who are passionate about their research, no matter their academic background.
“I didn’t have much experience with (research),” Adimulam said. “I wouldn’t say I am the best; I was an average student, so it can be daunting sometimes. Most of these people are regular students like me and you that are really interested in what they are doing. It never hurts to ask and see what you can do because you might be able to do more than you think you can.”
