Here are the requirements to present your research project at the 2023 Fall Undergraduate Research Symposium.
For Student Presenters
Presenting at the Fall Undergraduate Research Symposium on Friday, September 22nd is required for all undergraduate students receiving a summer research grant from the Charles Center, with the exception of students completing an Honors Thesis, who will present in the spring.
**Students not funded by the Charles Center but who have completed summer research are also encouraged to apply to present and will be accommodated based on space available.**
After reading the instructions for presentation formats below, you must apply for a preferred session time and format by completing the Symposium Registration Form. Students not able to attend the Symposium due to an unavoidable conflict should still submit the Registration Form to let the Charles Center know. On this form, you will also provide your name, major, mentor information, project title, and abstract exactly as you want it to appear on the Charles Center website. (Already registered but need to update your presentation information? Complete the update form here).
11:00 AM -12:30 PM – Trifold & Digital Poster Session 1
12:30-1:15 PM – Visual Arts Session
1:15-2:45 PM – Trifold & Digital Poster Session 2
Symposium Format
In a poster session, you will be one of many presenters in a large room. During your 90-minute time slot, you’ll have an assigned spot where you will set up your trifold board or will pull up your digital presentation on a monitor. People attending the session will be able to wander through the room and stop to talk to any presenters. If you have a trifold board, you will present a 1-2 minute elevator pitch. If you have a digital presentation, you will give your 5-slide presentation. Your audience should feel free to ask questions about your research and have a conversation with you. Information about your project and where you will be located in the Read & Relax Room will be uploaded to the Charles Center website before the Symposium.
Presentation Format Options
Trifold Poster Board (default format): • You will be able to pick up a 36” x 48” trifold poster board from the Charles Center when classes resume, Monday-Friday 8:30-4:30 pm. You will attach typed descriptive sections and graphics/images to your board. •
. Digital 5-slide Presentation (application only): • The digital presentation is a 5-slide Powerpoint shown on a monitor connected to your laptop. • We have a limited number of 29” wide monitors available per session. When completing the Symposium Registration Form, you can choose to apply to use a monitor for a 5-slide digital presentation. Monitors are available on a first-come, first-served basis so we recommend registering early. • Monitors have a standard HDMI port. If you are using a Mac or have a laptop without an HDMI port, we recommend you bring an adaptor. We will have a few on hand just in case. •
Group Presentations: If you and one or more other students collaborated on a research project, you are welcome to do one presentation together. Only one person from each group needs to fill out the Symposium Registration Form and will list the co-presenters’ names, WM email addresses and majors/minors. You can choose to present at one Poster Session or at both if presenters will switch off. Substitute Presentations: • Students with an unavoidable conflict (ie, studying abroad, not enrolled Fall 2023, family wedding, etc) can indicate this on the Symposium Registration Form and provide an explanation. • If you have class conflicts with the available presentation times, we encourage you to speak to your instructor at the start of the semester about being excused. However, we understand if this is not possible. • Students not attending the Symposium will create a 5-minute video presentation on YouTube to be uploaded to the Charles Center website.
The deadline to submit a link to the video presentation to this form is Friday, September 15th by 11:59 pm.
Visual Arts Presentations
Undergraduate students will have the opportunity to display creative projects completed over the summer along the hallway leading to the Read and Relax Room. Projects may include paintings, photography, prints, sculpture, etc. Acceptance is subject to space available.
Student presenters must be available to speak about their work from 12:30-1:15 pm during the Visual Arts Session. Similar to a poster session, you will stand or sit by your work for the duration of the session. Guests can wander past at their leisure and stop to talk with you.
You will be able to pick up a 36” x 48” trifold poster board from the Charles Center when classes resume, Monday-Friday 8:30-4:30 pm. You will attach typed descriptive sections and graphics/images to your board.
The digital "poster" presentation is a 5-slide PowerPoint shown on a monitor connected to your laptop.
UPDATE: ALL SLOTS NOW FULL. We have a limited number of 29” wide monitors available per session. When completing the Symposium Registration Form, you can choose to apply to use a monitor for a 5-slide digital presentation. Monitors will be reserved on a first-registered, first-served basis.
Monitors have a standard HDMI port. If you are using a Mac or have a laptop without an HDMI port, we recommend you bring an adaptor. We will have a few on hand just in case.
Students with an unavoidable conflict (ie, studying abroad, not enrolled Fall 2023, family wedding, etc) can indicate this on the Symposium Registration Form and provide an explanation.
If you have class conflicts with the available presentation times, we encourage you to speak to your instructor at the start of the semester about being excused. However, we understand if this is not possible.
Students not attending the Symposium will create a 5-minute video presentation on YouTube to be uploaded to the Charles Center website. Please carefully review the instructions here. The deadline to submit a link to the video presentation to this form is Friday, September 15, 2023 by 11:59 pm.
Group Presentations
If you and one or more other students collaborated on a research project, you are welcome to do one presentation together. Only one person from each group needs to fill out the Symposium Registration Form and will list the co-presenters’ names, WM email addresses and majors/minors.
You can choose to present at one Poster Session or at both if presenters will switch off.
Visual Arts Presentations
Undergraduate students will have the opportunity to display creative projects completed over the summer along the hallway leading to the Read and Relax Room. Projects may include paintings, photography, prints, sculpture, etc. Acceptance is subject to space available.
Student presenters must be available to speak about their work from 12:30-1:15 pm during the Visual Arts Session. Similar to a poster session, you will stand or sit by your work for the duration of the session. Guests can wander past at their leisure and stop to talk with you.
Deadline for Charles Center-funded students: Friday, August 11, 2023 at 5 pm Deadline for undergraduates not funded by the Charles Center: Friday, September 8, 2023 at 5 pm
Presentation Creation Workshops
The tip sessions are presented by W&M Research Librarians and the Writing Center.
Tips for Presenting Your Undergraduate Research - June 14th at 3 pm online - Watch the recording here
