Showcase your expertise and passion for research

Presentations in the Oral Stream:

• should be approximately 3 minutes long (followed by a 2-minute Q & A period, for a total of 5 minutes max per presenter)
• may include optional visual components that supplement your presentation, such as
  • PowerPoint slides
  • a pre-recorded video
  • a displayable PDF file
  • images/renders, 3D models, dioramas, etc. (displayed on screen or brought into the space)

Generally, most Oral Stream participants will prepare PowerPoint slides to supplement their presentation. These slides (and any other form of supplementary content) will be requested by the URS team at some point after the registration period closes.

Please note that for those who decide to bring physical work or material to supplement their Oral Stream presentation (i.e., dioramas, models, etc.), we will have a dedicated section of the space for you to display these outside of your oral presentation slot. Since the Oral Stream presentations will take place on a small platform, you may not be able to display physical works or material during your presentation, due to safety hazards. We are not responsible for any damages incurred. Students interested in bringing physical work/material must contact the URS team in advance.

All presenters will have access to a microphone and a projector + screen, which will both be located in the Oral Presentation space.

For those who wish to make use of the projector to display any virtual visual components, please be sure to provide us with the necessary files beforehand. There will be a laptop on site from which you can access your files. Please note that we may not be able to accept files that require a unique program/application.

Yes. Please note that the following are considered restricted and not allowed in the Oral Presentation Stream (although they may, however, be included as a purely virtual visual component, such as a PowerPoint Presentation or pre-recorded video):

• the use of live specimens, samples, or animals
• live experiments performed on-site in or near the Oral Presentation Space
• the use of hazardous materials or chemicals

Yes, all presentations, whether in the Oral Stream or the Poster Stream, will be judged by 3 judges, selected from members of the UM community (faculty members, professors, researchers, etc.).

You can view the judging criterions below.

Yes ! There will be areas spread across the Multi-Purpose Room for Oral Presentation Stream participants to further discuss their research with those in attendance. Please note that this will not count towards judging. These spaces and opportunities are there for:

• students who wish to learn more about the research that their colleagues are doing
• those who want to have collaborative and insightful conversations with UM researchers (both faculty and students) or display concepts covered in their presentation (such as a small visual installations)
• are eager to talk more about their research and research experiences with members of the UM research community

You will be assigned a 4'H X 8'W Poster Board on which to display your research, scholarly work or creative activity. Please note that you will need a 4"H X 11"W space in the upper right hand corner for the poster board number identifying your project. Other than that, the space is yours. You are free to use large-scale poster paper or build your poster in whatever way best suits your interests, as long as it stays within the total dimensions shown here.

Include the correct UM logo per the brand guidelines.

Posters in in the Poster Presentation Stream:

• should abide by the applicable space and specifications/dimensions that are listed on this page.
• Can include supplementary components outside of the poster board, such as:
  • small dioramas/displays
  • scaled models

Please note that the Undergraduate Research Showcase team will not be responsible for the loss or damage of any posters or supplementary components. All supplementary components outside of the poster board must fit within the space space in front of your poster board, and must not obstruct the pathways in the room, nor can they obstruct the poster boards of other participants.

We encourage students to stay near their posters and share their research with those in attendance, which includes other UM students and members of the UM research community, as judges will be in the hall throughout the day looking at posters. This is meant to be an event that gives students the means to showcase their exciting and innovative research and research experiences, and so we encourage you to take advantage of that and share your work, while also taking the time to check out the work of your fellow UM students !

Students who have registered to participate in the Poster stream but wish to showcase their work through more than just their poster are allowed to bring in additional material(s) to do so. This can include supplementary things like:

• physical/material work such as small dioramas or models related to your research
• flash cards and other forms of interactive devices, that may have been a critical part of your research

Please note that these components, if brought in and used, will not be part of the judging process. In addition, these supplementary materials are expected to remain by your poster at all times. There will be approximately 1.5 ft (18 inches) of clearance in front of your poster.

The URS team is not liable for any damages related to the supplementary material. Students must also remain mindful of the space they occupy, and as such, not all forms of supplementary materials may be accepted due to safety reasons. Those still interested in bringing supplementary materials must contact the URS team in advance.

Participants in the Oral Presentation Stream will be evaluated on the following criteria:

Participants in the Poster Presentation Stream will be evaluated on the following criteria:

Yes, as long as you were a UM undergraduate student and the poster was completed on/before you graduated in Spring 2024.

Yes, as long as you are registered/enrolled at UM as an undergraduate student.

Yes. We don’t want to discourage you, so if you are comfortable entering the competition with uncompleted work, we will accept the poster.

Yes. As long as you are currently enrolled as an undergraduate student and you have a UM advisor, we will accept the poster.

Preferably, you should be the first author of the research on the poster. A disclaimer is highly recommended. You need to be able to identify your role in the context of the larger project. Also, you must contact the others involved for their permission should you present the entirety of the project.

You should check with your research advisor.

No. The poster should be self-explanatory and you will not be deducted any points for not being at your poster. You are, however, expected to collect your poster after 4:30pm the day of the event. Please note though that judges and general attendees will be in the room throughout the day, so this may be a great opportunity to gain experience sharing and conveying your research work to an audience !

You are not required to prepare a speech. Your poster will be graded on the official judging criteria, which does not include any formal oral components. The judges may ask you questions in conversation should you be present at the same time as them.