From research on the development of international law in cyberspace to the psychophysiological effects of yoga—and every project in between—University of Georgia undergraduates are gearing up for the annual CURO Symposium, held this year on April 8-9 at the Classic Center in downtown Athens.
Hosted by the Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities, this year’s symposium is again breaking records, becoming the first to include more than 650 undergraduates.
At the two-day event, students will present individually and in teams at oral and poster sessions on topics as varied as chemistry in the arts, hybridization in Chattahoochee bass, newborn hearing screenings, concrete bridge deck cracking, Zika virus transmission, cost savings of health insurance networks, high-fat diet’s effect on gut morphology and the Athens music scene.
“Given the sheer range of topics addressed, the quality of our students’ work and the tremendous support of faculty across campus, the CURO Symposium is always a vibrant event,” said David S. Williams, associate provost and director of the Honors Program and CURO.
The symposium will open April 8 at 11:15 a.m. and includes 216 oral presentations and 395 posters. The undergraduates participating are pursuing 96 majors from 13 UGA schools and colleges. Collectively, they are conducting research with 361 faculty members from 80 departments.
Jennifer McDowell, professor and chair of the Behavioral and Brain Sciences Program in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, will deliver the keynote address on “Minding Your Brain” at 3:30 p.m. in Ballroom E. The poster session and reception will follow at 4:30 p.m.
Oral presentations will continue April 9 at 9:30 a.m. with the last session ending at 4:45 p.m.
“I am looking forward to the keynote address by Dr. Jennifer McDowell, a highly regarded researcher and mentor,” said Maria Navarro, associate director of Honors and CURO. “I believe her presentation will be informative and meaningful to all in attendance.
“I also encourage faculty and students to attend the poster session. It is very special to be in a room full of students talking passionately about their work,” Navarro also said. “For undergraduates considering engaging in research, it is a good opportunity to network with mentors and learn from the experiences of other students.”
The symposium gives UGA students the opportunity to present their projects to faculty, graduate students and peers. It is open to all undergraduates pursuing faculty-mentored research in any discipline.
A UGA bus marked “Special” will provide transportation to the Classic Center, with stops at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel, the Tate Student Center and the Arch.
The CURO Symposium is sponsored by the Office of the President, the Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, the Office of Instruction, the Office of Research, the UGA Libraries and the Honors Program.
For more information, visit symposium.curo.uga.edu.
