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Spring Edition

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The Spring 2023 Symposium of Student Scholars was held during Undergraduate Research Week! 

Student presentations were held on multiple days to allow people to attend more sessions:

  1. In-Person Oral Presentations & Performances: Tuesday April 18, 2023

  2. In-Person Posters & Visual Arts Displays: Thursday April 20, 2023

  3. Virtual Presentations (all types): Friday April 21, 2023

Questions? Email our@kennesaw.edu

Click here to view the Spring 2023 Symposium of Student Scholars Program.

Click here to download a sortable database of Spring 2023 Symposium of Student Scholars projects.

Follow along with the Spring 2023 Symposium of Student Scholars live blog!

    • The Posters and Visual Arts will occur in the Convocation Center between 10am and 5pm on Thursday April 20, 2023. To locate the Convocation Center, check out the campus map here.

      If you have parking on the Kennesaw campus, please park in your designated lot. If you are a guest who does not have parking on the Kennesaw campus, you can park in the East parking deck on the second floor or above. 

      The address for Convocation Center is:
      590 Cobb Ave NW
      Kennesaw, GA 30144

      The address for East Parking Deck is:
      305 Hopkins Dr NW
      Kennesaw, GA 30144

      The schedule is below:

      • Time
        Event/Activity
      • 10:00am – 10:45am
        Posters/Visual Arts Session 1
      • 11:00am – 11:45am
        Posters/Visual Arts Session 2
      • 12:00pm – 12:45pm
        Posters/Visual Arts Session 3
      • 1:00pm – 1:45pm
        Posters/Visual Arts Session 4
      • 2:00pm – 2:45pm
        Posters/Visual Arts Session 5
      • 3:00pm – 3:45pm
        Posters/Visual Arts Session 6
      • 4:00pm – 4:45pm
        Posters/Visual Arts Session 7

    • The Poster/Visual Arts sessions are free and open to the public. Anyone who would like to come is welcome, and there is no need to RSVP. Simply drop in, grab a snack and some Office of Undergraduate Research swag, and talk to poster presenters. 

    • If you are planning to do a poster or a visual arts display in person, you will be assigned a 45-minute slot to display your work in the Convocation Center on the Kennesaw campus. Those displaying visual art should contact us to coordinate the logistics (our@kennesaw.edu). Those of you displaying a poster, please get it printed for free here. Resources for creating effective posters for conferences can be found here and here. 

      You will be assigned a timeslot and a poster number in the program. Please give yourself enough time to find your assigned poster number and put up your poster. We provide a poster board and velcro to affix your poster to the board. 

    • The Oral Presentations and Performances will be held in the Office of Undergraduate Research between 10am and 5pm on Tuesday April 18, 2023. This office is located in the Academic Learning Center on the Kennesaw Campus, on the 5th floor. Depending on how many oral presentations there are, we may have concurrent sessions in other spaces nearby.

      To locate the Academic Learning Center (ALC), check out the campus map here.

      If you have parking on the Kennesaw campus, please park in your designated lot. If you are a guest who does not have parking on the Kennesaw campus, you can park in the East parking deck on the second floor or above. 

      The address for Academic Learning Center is:
      480 Bartow Avenue NW
      Kennesaw, GA 30144

      The address for East Parking Deck is:
      305 Hopkins Dr NW
      Kennesaw, GA 30144

      • Time
        Event/Activity
      • 10:00am – 10:15am
        Orals & Performances Session 1
      • 10:20am – 10:35am
        Orals & Performances Session 2
      • 10:40am – 10:55am
        Orals & Performances Session 3
      • 11:00am – 11:15am
        Orals & Performances Session 4
      • 11:20am – 11:35am
        Orals & Performances Session 5
      • 11:40am – 11:55am
        Orals & Performances Session 6
      • 12:00pm – 12:15pm
        Orals & Performances Session 7
      • 12:20pm – 12:35pm
        Orals & Performances Session 8
      • 12:40pm – 12:55pm
        Orals & Performances Session 9
      • 1:00pm – 1:15pm
        Orals & Performances Session 10
      • 1:20pm – 1:35pm
        Orals & Performances Session 11
      • 1:40pm – 1:55pm
        Orals & Performances Session 12
      • 2:00pm – 2:15pm
        Orals & Performances Session 13
      • 2:20pm – 2:35pm
        Orals & Performances Session 14
      • 2:40pm – 2:55pm
        Orals & Performances Session 15
      • 3:00pm – 3:15pm
        Orals & Performances Session 16
      • 3:20pm – 3:35pm
        Orals & Performances Session 17
      • 3:40pm – 3:55pm
        Orals & Performances Session 18
      • 4:00pm – 4:15pm
        Orals & Performances Session 19
      • 4:20pm – 4:35pm
        Orals & Performances Session 20
      • 4:40pm – 4:55pm
        Orals & Performances Session 21

    • The Oral Presentation/Performance sessions are free and open to the public. Anyone who would like to come is welcome, and there is no need to RSVP. Simply drop in, grab a snack and some Office of Undergraduate Research swag, and stay for the sessions.

    • You will be assigned a 15-minute timeslot. If you have a powerpoint or other visual aids, please upload them to Digital Commons 24 hours in advance so we can have your presentation ready to show. There is a large video wall in the space that we will be using, and it is not advisable to try to hook up your own laptop to the video wall (you need to download software to do so, and you will only have five minutes between sessions). If you cannot load your presentation into Digital Commons, then please bring it on a flash drive, which will be the fastest way for us to get you started.

      For those of you doing an oral presentation, there are some resources available here and here. 

    • Virtual presentations will be held on Friday April 21, 2023 from noon to 5pm. All presentation types are welcome for virtual sessions (posters, oral presentations, visual arts, performances). The sessions will be scheduled in 15-minute increments using Microsoft Teams. 

    • Everyone is welcome at the virtual sessions. Non-KSU attendees may need to download Microsoft Teams before joining sessions. All KSU students and employees have access to Microsoft Teams for free.

    • All virtual presentations will held in Microsoft Teams in 15-minute increments.

      • If you are displaying visual art virtually, you might want to create a powerpoint with photos of your work.
      • If you are presenting a poster, you will need to create a talk about your poster and zoom in on the parts you're referring to as you talk.
      • For oral presentations, students typically create a PowerPoint and share their screen while presenting.
      • For performances, you might record the performance and show it, or you could do the performance live with a camera on you. 

      Each virtual presentation will have its own Teams link, so please use it to practice your presentation before the event. Make sure you know how to share your screen, zoom in and out (if necessary), mute noisy attendees, check the chat for questions, etc. Practice with friends! Email us in the Office of Undergraduate Research if you need a practice partner (our@kennesaw.edu). If, during your practice sessions, you type into the chat, don’t worry – your attendees at the Symposium won’t see what was put in the chat before they join the session (you will still see it though).

    • You have been given a 15-minute slot for your presentation. We recommend that you do the following for your presentation:

      1. Enter your assigned "room" at least 10 minutes before the session starts.
      2. Share your screen and show an opening slide so attendees know they've entered the correct "room." We have created a sample opening slide that you can modify, but you can feel free to make your own as well. Information about how to use Microsoft Teams can be found in the UITS Documentation Center.
      3. If you are using presentation software, like PowerPoint, Prezi, or OneNote: Start your presentation at the assigned time, and go into "presenter" mode to make your slides easier to read for the audience. Be sure to leave plenty of time for questions at the end.
      4. If you are not using presentation software, we strongly encourage you to turn on your video so attendees have something to look at. 
      5. When you're finished giving your presentation, ask the audience if they have any questions. Be sure to check the chat box to see if anyone wrote any questions.
      6. Once your 15 minutes are up, many attendees will need to leave to attend other sessions, but you're welcome to stay in your "room" to talk to people (the code is unique to your session). 

More Information About the Symposium

  • If you are faculty, staff, administrator, postdoctoral researcher, or graduate student, we would love for you to judge session! The survey to sign up judge can be found here. We are especially in need of volunteers who can judge in person on the Kennesaw campus. You will receive further instructions, including the specific presentations you are assigned to judge, as we get closer to the event.

    Anyone can volunteer to assist at the Symposium -- free food and swag for all volunteers. The survey to volunteer (not judging) can be found here. 

    If you are a moderator of oral presentations, please consult the moderator guidelines here. 

  • There are prizes for the top presentations by undergraduate and graduate researchers. To view past winners, click here.

    If you are interested in being a judge for the Spring Symposium of Student Scholars, please go to the following link to sign up: https://kennesaw.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aXDQ9MffesvCTgW 

    Judges can be faculty, staff or graduate students.

    The judging rubric can be found here. 

    • Click here for the Symposium of Student Scholars application, which is an online application through KSU Digital Commons. (Please note that you may have to set up an account on Digital Commons if you have not done so already.)  
    • A separate form should be used for each individual project.
    • We encourage ALL graduate and undergraduate students engaging in research/creative activity during the past year to present their work at the Symposium of Student Scholars, showcasing all of the great projects at KSU.
    • Proposals can be submitted as 15-minute oral presentations, performances, art displays, or posters. 
    • Remember that different types of presentations are scheduled for different days! 
      • If you are doing an in-person oral presentation or performance, you will be scheduled for Tuesday April 18, 2023 between 10am and 5pm
      • If you are doing an in-person poster or visual arts display, you will be scheduled for Thursday April 20, 2023 between 10am and 5pm
      • If you are doing a virtual presentation, you will be scheduled for Friday April 21, 2023 between 12pm and 5pm

    *Note: You will need to write an abstract for your submission if you are presenting at the Symposium of Student Scholars. For examples of past abstracts, check out past programs here.

    1. If you do not have an account in Digital Commons, you will need to make one here. Please note that this is NOT your KSU netid and password -- you will need to create a new login and password unless you've used Digital Commons before.
    2. Next, click here to access the application portal.
    3. You will need the following for your application: 
      1. Title of project
      2. Academic department under which the project should be listed
      3.  Research Mentor(s) -- name, email, department
      4. All students on the project -- name, email, department, undergraduate/graduate student
      5. Institutional Review Board (IRB) status of project if applicable
      6. Any conferences, journals, etc. where this work will be or has been presented/published (if applicable)
      7. We use the following definition of research (adapted from the Council on Undergraduate Research): "A mentored investigation or creative inquiry conducted by students that seeks to make an original scholarly or artistic contribution to knowledge." Projects submitted to the Symposium of Student Scholars must meet this definition. Briefly describe how your project meets the definition of research (1-2 sentences). If your project does not meet this definition, please do not submit your project for this event.
      8. Month and year you began working on this project
      9. Abstract, maximum of 300 words, as a single paragraph. Please review and edit abstracts prior to submission as the abstract will be printed verbatim in the program.
      10. Project type: Poster, Oral Presentation, Performance, Visual Arts Display
      11. How you will present: In person or virtually
      12. Time conflicts for the date of the event (if applicable)

  • If you have never written an abstract before, please watch this short (12-min) video here for some pointers.

    Abstracts in most disciplines typically have these components (adapted from the guidelines for the National Conference on Undergraduate Research): 

    1. Clearly state the central research question and/or purpose of the project.
    2. Provide brief, relevant scholarly or research context (no actual citations required) that demonstrate its attempt to make a unique contribution to the area of inquiry.
    3. Provide a brief description of the research methodology.
    4. State conclusions or expected results and the context in which they will be discussed.
    5. Include text only (no images or graphics)
    6. Be well-written and well-organized. 

    Abstracts in the Visual Arts should follow these conventions: 

    1. Clearly state the central research question and/or purpose of the project.  (Provide an artist statement.)
    2. Provide brief, relevant scholarly or research context (no actual citations required) that demonstrate its attempt to make a unique contribution to the area of inquiry. (In the statement, cite your influences and inspirations: other established artists; movements that are referenced or serve as inspiration; political/ cultural/ social issues that the work responds to; personal events, adventures, medical diagnosis; etc.)
    3. Provide a brief description of the research methodology. (What techniques were used?  It could be as basic as oil painting on primed canvas, or a more in-depth explanation of the experimental process.)
    4. State conclusions or expected results and the context in which they will be discussed. (What did you learn?  What was successful?  What are things to be addressed in future pieces?  How does this piece fit into your portfolio or future works?)
      Include text only (no images or graphics)
    5. Include text only (no images or graphics)
    6. Be well-written and well-organized. All of these issues should be addressed in your abstract. However, as each covers a unique influence that alters the interpretation the work, speak more to one or two components of your “research” in depth:  was the work a response to Art History?  Or was the focus the experimental process? While it is assumed you will very briefly respond to all of these requirements, it is also expected that only a few will be the central focus of your statement.

    Abstracts in the Performing Arts should follow these guidelines:

    1. Clearly state the central research question and/or purpose of the project.A statement discussing compositional or performance aspects of the work. Why did you compose this work or choose this work to perform? What aspects of music are you exploring?
    2. Provide brief, relevant scholarly or research context (no actual citations required) that demonstrate its attempt to make a unique contribution to the area of inquiry. How does the composition and/or performance advance the development of your creative output?
    3. Provide a brief description of the research methodology. Provide a brief description of the musical work from a compositional or performative standpoint.
    4. State conclusions or expected results and the context in which they will be discussed. How did the composition of the work or preparation for the performance affect your musical understanding and output?
    5. Include text only (no images or graphics).
    6. Be well-written and well-organized. 

  • Please click here to view programs, photos and listing of prize winners from previous symposiums. 

  • Faculty can add the Symposium of Student Scholars to their course syllabi, promoting attendance and/or participation. The event is open to all KSU undergraduate and graduate students and attendance/participation is free. Some ways that faculty can integrate the conference in their coursework include: 

    • Encourage students to submit abstracts so that they have an opportunity to present at a university-wide conference where they will get to network with peers and other faculty in a familiar setting. Student can also polish their communication and presentation delivery skills, learn and/or improve their abstract writing abilities, and gain the experience of responding to audience and judges‘ questions about their research.   
    • Encourage students to attend a specific number of sessions. Example assignments can be:
      • Writing a short reflection on what they learned at the conference.
      • Making connections between research from the conference and course content.
      • Critically evaluating research presentations they attend at the conference. 

    • Please do not start your presentation early, as attendees might be coming from another session. For those doing virtual synchronous presentations, the link to your session is unique for you, which means you could go later if you wanted to, but we encourage you to end on time so that attendees can head to other sessions if they want. Judges in particular will often not be able to stay late, so they may take points off if your presentation is too long. 

      However, we strongly encourage you (if you are able) to stay in your session and chat with attendees informally if no one has to immediately leave. There is absolutely no problem with informal chats after the official end time for your session.

    • Students doing in-person oral presentations are strongly urged to upload their presentation to Digital Commons 24 hours in advance so your presentation can be ready for you when it's your assigned time. If you do not do this, we can't guarantee that you will be able to get the presentation loaded up in the five minutes between each session. 

      All other students can upload their presentations later to Digital Commons if you'd like to make it public; use the login and password you used when submitting your abstract, and upload the file (contact Heather Hankins at hhankin3@kennesaw.edu if you need help). Be sure to check with your research mentor first.

    • Yes – we are happy to accept the research you completed while a student at KSU in the past year.

    • This is normally not allowed because it gives the impression that you have done more research than you actually have. HOWEVER!! In this case, it is permissible. The Symposium of Student Scholars is a chance to show off your work to the campus and larger community; we want to see what you’ve done at these other conferences. If you are creating a resume/vita, you should somehow indicate that the presentation at the Symposium of Student Scholars is the same as a presentation elsewhere.

    • Definitely! Any student who has engaged in research/creative activity during the past year is eligible to get his/her name in the program. You can present the finished research at the next Symposium of Student Scholars, or you can present preliminary research/creative activity now if you wish.

    • Definitely! All students, faculty, administrators, staff, and community members are welcome to attend, regardless of whether they have research to present. Attending the Symposium of Student Scholars is an excellent way to see the research opportunities available at Kennesaw State University.

    • Judges are faculty volunteers; sometimes there are no judges (or not enough judges) from a particular discipline. If you would like to see better representation of your discipline, encourage your professors to attend the Symposium of Student Scholars and sign up to be a judge. 

 

 

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