Premier Event Showcasing Work of Undergraduate Researchers Will Host Nearly 4300 Attendees
On April 12–14, 2021, students from colleges and universities around the world will participate in the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR2021@Home), sponsored by the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR). This year, faculty mentors and more than 3400 undergraduate researchers will come together online to share their research on topics ranging from forecasts of Martian weather conditions and the relationship of financial literacy to student loan debt to queer representations in young adult fantasy novels and an array of projects related to COVID-19 such as the pandemic’s effect on playing style in the NBA.
“CUR’s first virtual National Conference on Undergraduate Research offers a number of exciting possibilities,” said Lindsay Currie, CUR’s executive officer. “Attending in-person events can pose difficulties for students because of their personal or professional commitments, accessibility issues, or lack of funding—all of which have been greatly affected by the pandemic. With NCUR@Home, many more undergraduate researchers can participate in this professional development opportunity, interacting with peers, mentors, and others on a dynamic platform and sharing exceptional work that has local, state, regional, national, and international implications.”
Check out an overview of the schedule. The following is a sample of NCUR2021@Home participants:
- Afaaf Amatullah, Elmhurst University (IL). Read about her project that examined gaps in data about the relationship of preexisting conditions and COVID-19 for Native Americans.
- Shannon Baker, Roanoke College (VA). Read about her project that studied the Confederate monument at Arlington National Cemetery in the contexts of debates regarding Confederate symbols and white supremacy.
- Chloe DeWees, United States Military Academy (NY). Read about her project that evaluated the impact of third-party delivery services on the restaurant industry amid COVID-19.
- Savannah Snider, University of West Florida (FL). Read about her project that sought to identify a biomarker that would aid in early detection of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Antonio Visani, University of Pavia (Italy). Read about his project that analyzed data to determine if a new US-China bipolarity is emerging.
- Ruijie Zhu, San Jose State University (CA). Read about this collaborative project that developed a robotic knee brace to assist patients experiencing age-related disorders.
Founded in 1978, the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) focuses on providing high-quality and collaborative undergraduate research, scholarly, and creative activity. Among the many activities and networking opportunities that CUR provides, the organization also offers support for the professional growth of faculty and administrators through expert-designed institutes, conferences, and a wide-range of volunteer positions. The CUR community, made up of nearly 700 institutions and 13,000 individuals, continues to provide a platform for discussion and other resources related to mentoring, connecting, and creating relationships centered around undergraduate research. CUR’s advocacy efforts are also a large portion of its work as they strive to strengthen support for undergraduate research. Its continued growth in connections with representatives, private foundations, government agencies, and campuses world-wide provides value to its members and gives voice to undergraduate research. CUR is committed to inclusivity and diversity in all of its activities and our community.
CUR focuses on giving a voice to undergraduate research with learning through doing. It provides connections to a multitude of campuses and government agencies, all while promoting networking and professional growth to its community.