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Surps 2020

Apply to Present

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2023-24 April Symposium of Undergraduate Research & Public Service (ASURPS)

The application ASURPS is now open! ASURPS will be held during Admit Weekend in April. Prior to submitting an application, students are encouraged to review the Eligibility Requirements.


Page Overview


Important Dates to Remember

Please be aware of the following dates prior to submitting your application:

  • Application Opens: Thursday, February 1, 2024 
  • Application Deadline: Sunday, March 31, 2024 (no exceptions for late applications)
  • Faculty Endorsement(s) Due: Wednesday, April 3, 2024
  • In-Person Event: Saturday, April 27, 2023 from 9-11 AM (PST), Location TBA

Application Requirements

In addition to basic student contact and academic information, applications must include the following:

  1. Project Title. Your title should state clearly the main idea of your project and should be understandable by more than specialists in your particular field. This will be printed in the SURPS/ASURPS program of presentations, to be distributed to all audience members.
  2. Faculty Advisor(s). An eligible faculty member who mentored your project must visit the Grant Application Portal and indicate your readiness to present your research or creative work. This does not require a formal recommendation letter. Instead, there will be space provided for any short comments your mentor may have. Public Service Fellowship and Community Service Work-Study presentations require endorsement by a Haas Center staff advisor.
  3. Abstract, Project Summary, or Creative Statement. The center of your application materials (approximately 250-word statement) should present a succinct overview of your research, creative or public service project. Abstracts are generally used in the natural sciences, engineering and social sciences; summaries in the humanities; and creative statements in the creative arts. For public service projects, include the name and mission of the organization with which you worked. Also include the population you served and how you did so, and what the organization, community or you gained from the experience. Abstracts, summaries, and creative statements may appear in SURPS/ASURPS print and/or online publications.
  4. Statement of Project Origins (optional; can be incorporated into abstract, project, or creative statement). This statement should describe the genesis of your project, including, but not limited to, the following: 
    • The development of your initial interest in the topic
    • Your early preparation for carrying out the project
    • Affiliation with faculty advisor or community partner
    • The link between your project and your overall undergraduate program and future plans.
  5. A short reflection on the project. What parts of your project experience so far have been surprising or rewarding for you? How will you share those reflections with the SURPS audience? 
    • The written pieces may appear in SURPS/ASURPS print and/or online publications.

Poster Requirements

FOR ALL POSTERS:

  • Students should review our Make a Good Poster page for content guidance.
  • Dimensions of your poster: 42 inches (wide) by 36 inches (height).
  • Design your poster as a slide in PowerPoint, and save the file as a .ppt file. 
    • To do this, create a new slide show and add a new slide by choosing “New Slide” from the “Insert” menu.
    • To change the dimensions of this slide to poster size, select “Page Setup” from the “File” Menu. Then change the width to 42 inches and height to 36 inches.
    • If you are submitting your poster with your application for printing, save the final poster in .pdf format and submit the PDF version.
  • The file size should not exceed 5 megabytes.

FOR IN-PERSON PRESENTATIONS:

  • If you are applying to present in-person, Undergraduate Research will print your poster free of charge if your poster is submitted with your application.
  • The computer connected to the plotter is a PC. If you are working on a Mac, check your file on a PC before submitting to ensure your fonts and images appear correctly.
  • Before submitting your poster for printing, double and triple check your file for errors such as spelling mistakes or overlapping images. 
    • We will only be able to print your poster once.
  • Posters presented in-person will be mounted with tacks to the provided backing boards. 
    • Posters on foamcore will not be mountable or presentable at SURPS/ASURPS.
    • Posters which do not adhere to the above 42x36 guidelines will not be mountable or presentable at SURPS/ASURPS.
  • If you choose to print your poster at your own expense, there are several venues for poster printing both on and off campus. The cost of printing a poster is usually in the range of $55.00. We recommend that students consult with their department to see if the department has poster printing equipment for a reasonable fee.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be judged according to the following criteria:

  • For research and creative projects: evidence of a strong research question or focused area of inquiry, expressed in the abstract / summary / creative statement. Also sufficient background in the field of research or creative production.
  • For public service projects: evidence of a mutually beneficial fit between your background and the organization and / or community needs.
  • Clarity of expression and general organization of the abstract / summary / creative statement, the statement of project origins, and the reflection piece.
  • Progress on the project to date (note that this criterion does not exclude work in progress).
  • Endorsement of participation submitted by the faculty mentor or staff advisor for public service projects
  • Consultants at the Hume Center for Writing and Speaking and your Undergraduate Advising Director (UAD) can provide feedback on a draft of your application.

 APPLY NOW