Showcase your expertise and passion for research.
About the competition
The Undergraduate Research Poster Competition is an annual event that takes place every fall at UM. $5,000 in cash prizes (three awards in each category) are up for grabs in five categories:
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Applied Sciences
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Creative Works
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Health Sciences
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Natural Sciences
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Social Sciences and Humanities
The event gives undergraduate students the opportunity to present research they’ve conducted with their advisors over the past year. The breadth and variety of research is significant.
The Undergraduate Research Poster Competition is a recognized UM Co-Curricular Record activity and all participants will be recognized.
Dates and Deadlines
The Poster Competition will take place Thursday, March 16, 2023 in the Multi-Purpose room, 2nd floor University Centre.
Upcoming Important Dates
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Deadline to Register for the Competition
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Day of Competition
Eligibility
The Poster Competition is open to all UM undergraduate students who:
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Are enrolled at UM as an undergraduate student
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Have a UM advisor
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Are on track to obtain a UM undergraduate degree
Note: Students who graduated in Spring 2022 are eligible to participate, as long as the research represented on the poster was completed while they were and undergraduate student.
Competition Format & Specifications
Competition format
Students will produce a poster, and set it up for viewing and judging on campus at a specified time and place. Judging will occur in person with winners announced shortly after judging has ended.
Poster specifications
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.
Include the correct UM logo per the brand guidelines.
Judging Criteria
The judges will be evaluating your posters on the following criteria:
| Criteria | Points |
|---|---|
| Scholarly Content/ Scientific/Creative Content | 25 Points |
| Appropriate use of images, graphic representation, and/or tables | 10 Points |
| For Non-Creative Works (Natural Sciences, Health Sciences, Applied Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities): Appropriateness of headings, clear objectives and conclusions. For Creative Works: Clear description/explanation of creative process, identification of issue explored and learning that resulted from the creative project. |
25 Points |
| Overall impression and significance of research | 25 Points |
| Effective communication to the audience through written or visual language that avoids the use of jargon | 15 Points |
| Total | 100 Points |
Resources & Information
Poster Competition 2023 Info Session material (PowerPoint Presentation)
86+ million tips for creating a research poster presentation from Google
Ten Simple Rules for a Good Poster Presentation - from 2007, but still relevant!
8 ways to create a powerful research poster - tips on using white space, colour, organization and fonts.
Design tips for creating arts and humanities posters – from Mark McDayter’s blog
FAQs
I am now in a Master’s program at UM. Can I submit a poster I completed before I graduated?
Yes, as long as you were a UM undergraduate student and the poster was completed on/before you graduated in Spring 2022.
I am a UM student doing research at another university – am I still eligible to participate in the competition?
Yes.
Could I submit a poster for a project that isn't completed yet?
Yes. We don’t want to discourage you, so if you are comfortable entering the competition with uncompleted work, we will accept the poster.
I did a project this summer with a company where I worked. Could I present the research work I did with them at this competition?
Yes. As long as you are currently enrolled as an undergraduate student and you have a UM advisor, we will accept the poster.
This summer I participated in a project with many people working on it. Should my poster demonstrate the entirety of the project or just my contribution as a research assistant?
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.
How do I know which category my poster will fall under?
You should check with your research advisor.
I have an exam on the day of the event. Do I need to stay for the whole time during the competition?
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.
Am I required to speak briefly about my poster? Should I prepare a speech or will the presentation of the poster be more of a conversation with the judges?
No. You are not required to prepare a speech. Your poster will be graded on the official judging criteria, which does not include any oral components. The judges may ask you questions in conversation should you be present at the same time as them, but this will not influence the grading in any way.
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For more information contact
Office of the Vice-President (Research and International)
204-474-6915