• Symposium Poster Design Workshop: Monday, October 12, from 5:30 - 6:30 pm
• Symposium Materials Drop-In Session 1: Thursday, October 22, from 10:00 - 12:00 am
• Symposium Materials Drop-In Session 2: Tuesday, October 27, from 4:00 - 6:00 pm

Have questions about designing, creating or submitting your symposium presentation to the online program? Review the presenter instructions for resources!

Day of Tips for Presenters

• Check in upon arrival. Find the registration table on the 1st floor of Bauer Hall when you arrive, so we can confirm your presence and share information.
• Be timely! As a general rule, arrive 20 minutes prior to your assigned session and stay for the duration of your session.
  • Oral presenters should test their slides and familiarize themselves with the session logistics and AV system in the room.
  • Poster presenters must bring, set up, and take down their own poster, or have a friend do so instead. If Undergraduate Research printed your poster, you must pick it up in advance; we will not transport posters to the event.
• Practice makes perfect. All presenters should practice communicating the key questions, methods, and findings of your research. Whether giving a talk or poster, all participants should take this opportunity to practice a brief "elevator pitch" describing their research to diverse audiences.
• Dress for confidence and comfort. Business casual attire is recommended (i.e., no jeans, t-shirts, or flip flops). The goal is to look professional but also feel comfortable standing and interacting with fellow researchers.
• Spread the word. Encourage faculty mentors, lab mates, advisors, and friends to stop by!

To the extent possible, all students will be grouped thematically and present alongside others in their broad discipline or area of inquiry. Below is an overview of each available presentation format, its intended purpose and content, and its logistical details. Each presenter will be assigned only one format due to space limitations; however, students may take part in both an individual and a group presentation. Visit the Spring 2026 URS online program to view example materials across disciplines. 

60-Minute Poster Presentations

• Purpose: To provide extensive conversation, questions, and constructive feedback from audience members with varying levels of disciplinary expertise. This presentation format is the most interactive, offering a great opportunity for students to solicit input on projects at any stage (e.g., design, work-in-progress, or completed).
• Content: Individual or group presenters should leverage their poster as a visual aid for brief verbal presentations. Best practice is to prepare a short (1 minute) “elevator pitch” describing the work for a diverse audience, plus a longer (3-5 minute) walk-through for those interested in more detail. Audience members can interject questions at any point.
• Materials: A poster provides a large-format summary of your project utilizing any combination of text and/or imagery. Visit the Making a Poster page for help with the poster design process.

5-Minute Lightning Talks (Plus 2-Minute Q&A)

• Purpose: Ideal for presenting works in progress. Lightning talks provide the opportunity to practice succinct and clear communication with a diverse audience in a low-pressure environment. They allow presenters to take stock of their project progress and receive brief feedback.
• Content: Presenters should consider where they are in the progression of their project (e.g., literature review, design, troubleshooting methods, evidence collection, creative production, synthesis) and choose the most relevant phase to highlight. This focal point for the talk should follow a brief introduction of the motivating research question or creative objective. Audience members can raise questions immediately after the talk.
• Materials: A good rule of thumb is to utilize no more than 1 slide per minute. Presenters utilizing slides as an optional visual aid should therefore prepare no more than 5 slides total, with fewer slides likely working better, given the time constraints.

Creative Exhibits and Performances

• Purpose: Ideal for undergraduate inquiry involving the arts and/or creative practice. Whether through static or dynamic modalities, presenters can share the process and/or outputs of discovery in their discipline.
• Content: During symposium registration, students can describe the nature of their desired presentation and identify the resources, space, and time required. Opportunities will be made available as interest and capacity allow.