Undergraduate Conference Research Articles

2017 Physics Undergraduate Conference Research Day Abstracts

2017 Physics Undergraduate Conference (PhUnC) Abstracts from Ontario undergraduate students.

Electing an All-Party, Proportional, Power-Sharing Coalition, a Government of National Unity

There are many instances when a group of people might want to choose a committee, a fixed number of individuals to undertake a particular collective function. At their AGM or annual conference, residents in a community group, shareholders of a limited company, members of a trades union, and those of a political party, may all want to elect an executive: one person to be chair, another secretary, a third treasurer, etc. All these posts require different talents and all the individual office bearers undertake necessary but separate functions for the successful operation of that committee. In like manner, a parliament may choose to elect a government of national unity (GNU). The only voting procedure so far devised by which a given electorate—those concerned at an AGM or members of parliament (MPs)—may elect, not only those whom they wish to be in cabinet, but also the ministerial posts in which each of those chosen will then serve, is the matrix vote. This paper describes 1) an experiment held at the Political Studies Association of Ireland (PSAI), undergraduate conference in Dublin on 23rd June 2012 inwhich participants, role playing as members of the Irish parliament, elected a GNU; and 2) the matrix vote methodology, such that others may also employ this voting system. An obvious instance would be for the election of an all-party power-sharing executive in a post-conflict zone.

Ten Years of Using Presentations at a Student Conference as a Final Assessment

The final assessment for all psychology courses in the department of interdisciplinary studies, MMU Cheshire programmes, in the past 10 years has been a presentation of project work at an undergraduate conference. It is argued that this acts as an ‘authentic’ assessment method which helps prepare students for future experiences. Alumni who commented on their experience of the assessment noted an increased confidence in their presentation skills, communication skills, pride in their research, and a sense of professionalism. In general it was viewed retrospectively as a valuable learning experience and social event.

South West Undergraduate Conference 2012 – A review

South West Undergraduate Conference 2012 – A review

Glasgow University Surgical Society, 3rd Undergraduate Surgical Conference, 26 November 2012

Glasgow University Surgical Society, 3rd Undergraduate Surgical Conference, 26 November 2012

The Undergraduate Literature Conference

Written by the co-chairs of the Northwest Undergraduate Conference on Literature (NUCL), this article makes an argument for the value of the undergraduate conference: by fostering conversations about student work, undergraduate conferences offer one way of ameliorating the present crisis in the humanities. The writers also explain the more particular disciplinary, institutional, and departmental benefits of the conference, and suggest strategies for implementing such a conference on other campuses.

Union College’s Rapaport Everyday Ethics Across the Curriculum Initiative

As of September 1st, 2009, Union College, a small private Northeastern liberal arts college, has a thriving “everyday” ethics across the curriculum program. In less than three years, the program was responsible for the introduction of 45 ethics segments by 43 faculty members in 21 subjects across the four divisions of the college (engineering, humanities, science, and social science). It had also sponsored or co-sponsored 10 lectures, symposia, 31 college ethics workshops and a national undergraduate conference. In this paper the program’s former director and chair describe its origins, the strategy and factors underlying its design and implementation, the elements conducive to its success, and the challenges it has yet to overcome.

Developing a research culture in the undergraduate curriculum

A great deal of value is placed on student research within universities, exemplified by the prominent role of the dissertation or extended written work at the end of many programmes, and the more general benefits of embedding research-based learning into a curriculum in order to develop higher-order learning. This article reports on a collaborative problem-based learning (PBL) activity undertaken by staff and students to run an undergraduate conference for first year students on how to develop a research culture. The aim is to better understand how students undertake research and how a research culture might be inculcated much earlier in undergraduate programmes.

A research-led curriculum in multimedia

Traditional teaching methods have acknowledged limitations. Lectures may be used to transmit information efficiently, but often fail to motivate students to engage with the subject. Coursework assessments and examinations may lack authenticity and thus fail to help students develop 'real world' skills even though they ensure technical competence.This paper presents a teaching innovation motivated from a social constructivist perspective whereby undergraduates researched, reviewed, and presented their papers at a one day conference, by way of preparing for a written examination.The paper presents theory supporting this change, our experiences from running the course, and improvements in learning we observed. We identify the value of undergraduate conferences beyond serving as a vehicle for communication skills. We identify an approach which engages learners and realizes higher level learning objectives by using authentic activities. The process has identified a 'research-led' approach which clarifies the similarity between research processes and effective independent learning strategies and is valued by students, faculty and stakeholders alike.

A Successful Undergraduate Psychology Conference: Organized through a Special Course

The planning, implementation, and evaluation of a large-scale undergraduate psychology conference was conducted through a special two-term course. The course requirements and structure are discussed as are specific details pertaining to the conference itself. Our experiences are related to the literature on undergraduate psychology conferences and research.

Letting Form Follow Function: A Multipurpose Model for Undergraduate Psychology Conferences

(1983). Letting Form Follow Function: A Multipurpose Model for Undergraduate Psychology Conferences. Teaching of Psychology: Vol. 10, No. 4, pp. 204-206.

The conference in communication: A professional experience for student authors

This article outlines the procedures of the successful undergraduate conference in communication, which has been held annually at California State University, Fresno, since 1974.

J. Undergraduate Conference on "Life, Death, and Human Rights": November 1978

J. Undergraduate Conference on "Life, Death, and Human Rights": November 1978

Undergraduate Psychology Conferences: Is Good Research Nested under Ph.D.s?

Purposes, barriers and successes of research conferences based upon six years of experience and a Division Two APA symposium.

Undergraduate physics conferences

Undergraduate physics conferences