Undergraduate Poster Session and Creative Exhibition

Nebraska Union — March 28-29, 2023

The Undergraduate Poster Session and Creative Exhibition provides undergraduate students the chance to showcase their research or creative activity, to communicate their results to others, and to learn about other areas of research and creative activity. Students do not have to be in Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Experience (UCARE) to present; all undergraduates are welcome. However, if you are enrolled in UCARE, presenting your research is an expectation.

Registration

Register to Present Your Poster
Students must register by March 3, 2023.

Space is limited for poster presentations; if registrations exceed capacity, preference will be given to juniors and seniors. You will be notified by Tuesday, March 7, 2023, whether your poster or exhibit has been accepted for presentation.

Communications regarding the conference will take place via the email address you provide when you register. The emails will go to a large number of participants, so be prepared to check your “junk” or “bulk” mailboxes.

Schedule

  • Friday, March 3
    Deadline to register for the poster session and creative exhibition
  • Tuesday, March 7
    Applicants notified of presentation decision
  • Monday, March 20
    Posters must be submitted by students to the Pixel Lab for printing. No late submissions allowed.
  • Monday, March 27
    Poster drop-off at the Nebraska Union Centennial Room
  • Tuesday, March 28 @ 10:00am – 12:00pm CT
    Engineering and physical sciences presentations
  • Wednesday, March 29 @ 10:00am – 12:00pm CT
    Arts and humanities, education, business, social sciences, and life sciences presentations

Poster and Creative Exhibition Competition

The university colleges, the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships, and the University Honors Program will host a poster competition that will provide students, whose work is deemed outstanding by judges, a monetary award. At the event, judges will visit your poster or exhibit and you’ll present your research or creative activity for them to evaluate. Your attendance at the poster session or creative exhibit is required for participation in the competition.

Criteria

Presentations will be judged on the following criteria:

  • Content:
    The quality, design, and layout of your presentation.

    • Organization
    • Balance
    • Conciseness
    • Aesthetics
  • Presentation to judges:
    How you convey information about your project to others.

    • Coherency
    • Credibility
    • Effective communication
    • Enthusiasm

HONORS STUDENTS

University Honors Students participating in Student Research Days are eligible for the following awards:

  1. Originality of Topic and/or Approach
  2. Strength of Presentation and Communication of Ideas
  3. Integration of Interdisciplinary or Multi-Disciplinary Perspectives
  4. Strength and Immediacy of “Real World” Impact
  5. Strongest Potential to Advance Research in the Relevant Field

Preparing for the Event

Presentation Types

Posters should be based on the research or creative activity you’ve worked on over the past year or summer. Standards of the entries are expected to be at the level that is common at regional and national conferences.

  • Discuss these expectations with your faculty mentor.
  • See Poster Guidelines and Templates for tips, poster size requirements, and related details like costs and deadlines for printing at the Pixel Lab.

Creative exhibitions may include video or visual art exhibits. After registration, we will contact you directly to discuss your display needs and available options.

Presenters will be given a space roughly the size of a 6-8’ table. A table can be provided, and other resources may be available.

A limited number of TVs will be available for electronic posters or creative displays. Please select that option when you submit your registration. Students will be notified if they will be provided a TV for their display.

Questions regarding the content and development of your specific poster or creative exhibit should be addressed to your faculty mentor. For all other questions, please send a message to ucare@unl.edu.

Day of the Event

Wear business casual: a nice pair of slacks or khakis and a button-down shirt or blouse. Plan to dress a step up from jeans, a t-shirt, and sneakers

Be at your assigned space during the designated time to discuss the work presented and be prepared to take your poster with you after your assigned time. Greet people who walk by and ask them if they have questions. People will often come to you and say, “Tell me about your research in one minute,” so have a brief statement about your research in mind.

Consider the elements of an elevator pitch to prepare:

  • Introduce yourself and any project team members
  • Provide a summary of the project and its aims
  • Briefly note the methods or tools used in your work
  • Conclude with findings or next steps in the project