2008 Student Research Conference:
21st Annual Undergraduate and 6th Annual Graduate Research Conference

Links

Call for Abstracts

Overview

On Thursday, April 03, 2008, Truman State University will convene its annual Student Research Conference, a University-wide Celebration of Student Research, Scholarship, and Creative Achievement. This umbrella event will include two separate meetings, the 21st Annual Undergraduate Research Conference and the 6th Annual Graduate Research Conference, that are united in a cohesive program. Students from all academic disciplines and divisions are invited and encouraged to present their scholarly or creative work.

Scheduled classes will not meet during the day on April 3, and it is hoped that faculty will formally integrate the event into course schedules and syllabi by incorporating relevant assignments. Some suggested ways of doing this are listed on the Info for Faculty page.

Presentation Types

Presentations will be grouped into disciplinary and interdisciplinary sessions based on the overall distribution of abstracts submitted. Authors select the scholarly area and the presentation type that is most appropriate for their project. The presentation options are listed below.

Oral paper - Oral papers, or podium presentations, will be 15 minutes in length (including time for questions) and grouped into sessions based on topic or discipline. A computer and data projector will be standard presentation options. Authors who wish to deliver computer-based presentations should use software packages that are on the campus computer image (i.e., campus standards). If additional audio-visual equipment is needed (e.g., 35mm slide projector, overhead transparency projector, video player and monitor), authors should indicate this on their online submission form.
Poster presentation - Posters will fit onto bulletin boards that are 3 ft tall and 5 ft wide. Push-pins for securing presentation material to the bulletin boards will be available on-site.
Studio art - Studio arts presentations will be examples of creative works from the fields of painting, photography, print making, ceramics, sculpture, fibers, or visual communications. Students will present a body of work to encompass no more than 8 sq ft. These works will be displayed throughout the Ophelia Parrish Fine Arts building; thus they will need to be matted, mounted, framed, or otherwise presented in a professional manner. The abstract proposal must be accompanied by a description of size, media, and an artist's statement of intent.
Performing art - Performing arts presentations will be examples of theatrical or musical performances, or a combination of the two. The performances will be 12-18 minutes in length, with an additional 2-3 minutes for questions concerning the composer/writer, style, influence, and performance demands. The performances will take place in the Ophelia Parrish Fine Arts building, where stages, performance halls, and classrooms will be made available. The abstract proposal must be accompanied by a description of needed equipment (props, music stands, etc.), and a brief summary of the work's style and influence.
Technology showcase - Technology presentations will be displayed on one-half of a standard, 8 ft long folding table. Space can be used to display computer graphics, continuous (looped) video presentations, and/or other technology demonstrations. Some type of written description of the project should accompany the display.
Roundtable discussion - Discussion sessions provide the opportunity for individuals or groups to moderate sessions that are focused on timely, controversial, or perennial topics. Session topics might include a wide range of scholarly issues, and some will be student-oriented (e.g., how to get started on a scholarly project; tips for delivering excellent presentations) and others will be faculty-oriented (e.g., how to mentor student work; the value of collaborative, interdisciplinary research; faculty showcases). The roundtable sessions will be one-hour, 'brown bag' discussions held over the lunch hour. There will be a maximum number of such sessions that the program can accept.

Posters, technology displays, and studio art works will be on display throughout the day, with the author(s) available at a scheduled time for discussion and questions.

Undergraduate Research Stipend Recipients

Students who will be presenting research funded by an Undergraduate Research Stipend should indicate that when they submit their abstracts. Under the section "Special Designations" please select "Undergraduate Research Stipend Recipient."

Submission Guidelines (Deadline: February 13, 2008)

Eligible work - An eligible presentation will report, perform or represent the outcome of substantial work by a student or group of students. While the project may have its origin in an assignment for a class, the presentation should show it has been developed above and beyond a class requirement. It is a paper, artifact or performance that can truly be called a creative achievement.
Faculty mentor required - Each presentation should be sponsored or co-sponsored by a Truman faculty mentor(s); non-sponsored abstracts will not be accepted. If students wish to present scholarly work that has been conducted during an off-campus research internship-type experience, and the faculty mentor is from a different institution, the student should identify a Truman faculty member to be a co-sponsor of the presentation and to help with planning the presentation.
Abstract requirement - Each presentation requires an abstract. An abstract is a summary of the project, and should reflect the professional format normally associated with scholarly work in the discipline (e.g., an abstract of an artistic performance may be similar to the program notes that typically accompany such a performance; science abstracts typically include background information, methods, results, and a brief discussion). All abstracts will appear on the conference web site and in the printed program volume.
Student authorship - The same student should not be a first author on more than two abstracts. Both single- and multiple-author presentations are welcome. In addition, if undergraduates and graduate students are collaborators on a project, all can be joint authors on the presentation.
Abstract preparation - Student authors should adhere to professional submission standards when preparing abstracts and should work with their faculty mentors to ensure that their abstract is correct, complete, and that all guidelines are followed. The body of the abstract should not exceed 150 words, and it can be composed and edited using standard word processing software. The final abstract, along with other information, will need to be submitted via the online submission form. Examples of past abstracts can be viewed on the web site ([sample abstracts]).
Interdisciplinary presentations - Interdisciplinary presentations are encouraged. All interdisciplinary submissions will be reviewed and considered for inclusion in a special Phi Kappa Phi interdisciplinary session(s).
Online submission - Submission of abstracts, titles, and other relevant information for all presentations should be carried out online at the Conference web site (Abstract Submissions). Copies of the information submitted will be sent electronically to the student presenter(s) and the faculty mentor. The submission site will open in January 2008, and the deadline for receiving abstracts is February 13, 2008 (5:00 pm CST).

Faculty Mentors

The size and scope of the Conference preclude any type of peer review of abstracts, and virtually all student submissions are accepted for presentation. Consequently, each student presentation must be sponsored by a faculty mentor, and the Program Committee will rely on faculty mentors to work with their student(s) to ensure that abstracts are correct, complete and the result of eligible work (see submission guidelines above). While the primary goal of the conference is to encourage and reward student research, scholarship and creative activity, faculty mentors should remember that their student's presentation also reflects upon themselves and their academic discipline and division. At the very minimum, faculty mentors should: 1) ensure that the student(s) have complied with the submission guidelines, 2) proof-read the abstract prior to submission and give the student(s) appropriate feedback and editing, 3) formally approve the abstract submission, and 4) preview the presentation prior to the Conference and give appropriate feedback to enhance the quality of the presentation.

Program & Schedule

The abstracts and final program will be available online at the Conference web site prior to the event and print copies will be available on-site at the registration desk on the day of the Conference. Questions about the program for the Conference should be directed to the appropriate divisional Program Committee member listed below, or to the Chair of the Program Committee: Dr. Sara E. Orel, Division of Fine Arts, Ophelia Parrish 2221, Tele: 785-4419,E-mail: orel@truman.edu.

Program Committee

Dr. Andrew Mun , Violette Hall 2462, Tele: 785-4367
email: amun@truman.edu

Dr. Wendy Miner , Violette Hall 2366, Tele: 785-6074
email: wsm@truman.edu

Dr. Jesse Krebs , Ophelia Parish 1310, Tele: 785-4442
email: jkrebs@truman.edu

Dr. Hena Ahmad , Brewer 13, Tele: 785-6017
email: hahmad@truman.edu

Dr. Jonathan Gering , Magruder Hall 3028, Tele: 785-7500
email: jgering@truman.edu

Dr. Sara Orel , Ophelia Parrish 2221, Tele: 785-4419
email: orel@truman.edu

Doug Eudy , (Fine Arts), Tele:
email: dme135@truman.edu

Dr. John Quinn
email: jquinn@truman.edu

Brenda Wheeler , BT 2406C, Tele: 785-4568
email: bwheeler@truman.edu

Dr. David Garth , VH 2246, Tele: 785-4044
email: dgarth@truman.edu

Lisa Glaubitz , PML 107, Tele: 7412
email: glaubitz@truman.edu