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How to Organize an Undergraduate Research Conference and
Why it Matters
Western Deans of Arts & Sciences Conference
Banff, Alberta
Oct. 1st, 2010
Dr. Farhad Dastur
Associate Dean of Social Sciences
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Richmond
Cloverdale
Langley
Surrey
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Two Simple Ideas
IDEA 1
Imagine a forum for undergraduate research: a place where students can present their research, share ideas, criticize the work of their peers, and network…
IDEA 2
Imagine empowering students to organize such a forum themselves.
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ObjectivesA Case Study Approach:
Connecting Minds National Undergraduate Research Conference in Psychology
• Overview; History; Scalability; Geographical and Institutional Representation
• Financial Considerations
• What the Student Organizing Team Learns
• What the Student Presenters Learn
• Opportunities for Service & Experiential Learning
• 7 Reasons Why Undergraduate Research Conferences Matter
• How Deans / Assoc. Deans Can Help
• Resources & Upcoming Events
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One Generally-Accepted Definition of Undergraduate Research
“Undergraduate research is an inquiry or investigation conducted by an undergraduate that makes an original intellectual or creative contribution to the discipline.”
Wenzel, T. J. (1997). “What is Undergraduate Research?” Council on Undergraduate Research Quarterly, 17, 163.
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OverviewTheme: National Undergraduate Research in Psychology
Size: 186 student attendees
50 faculty + administrators
Program: 24 oral presentations; 75 posters
SSHRC grant panel; Graduate School Panel
Criteria: Open to any student enrolled in an undergraduate program
No faculty or graduate student presenters
Date: Typically first week of June
Place: Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Richmond Campus
chosen for proximity to Airport, Hotels, Restaurants, and Skytrain
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History
2006: Kwantlen Undergraduate Research Conference in Psychology (local)
Barry Beyerstein, Simon Fraser University
2007: Kwantlen Undergraduate Research Conference in Psychology (local)
Daniel Bernstein, Kwantlen Polytechnic University
2008: 1st Connecting Minds Conference (Canada-wide)
Elliot Aronson, University of California, Santa Cruz
2009: 2nd Connecting Minds Conference (Canada-wide) (co-organized with UFV)
Sam Gosling, University of Texas at Austin
2010: 3rd Connecting Minds Conference (North America-wide)
Albert Bandura, Stanford University
2011: 4th Connecting Minds Conference (Tri-national)
Michael Shermer, Claremont Graduate University
2012: 5th Connecting Minds Conference (International)
Elizabeth Loftus, University of California, Irvine
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Scalability
In-House 2006 & 2007
Vancouver > BC > Canada2008
Canada 2009
North America 2010
North America & Australia, 2011
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PROGRAM• Registration
• Welcome Address / Closing Address
• Paper Presentations & Poster Sessions
• Info Sessions: Graduate School Panel; SSHRC Grants
• Keynote Lecture
• Social Events: Reception with live music
• Meals: Appetizers, Pub Gathering, Breakfast, Lunch
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Geographic & Institutional Representation (numerical data from 2010; representation data from 2008-10)
BRITISH COLUMBIA (121) • Kwantlen Polytechnic University• Camosun College• Douglas College• Capilano University• Langara College• Simon Fraser University• Thompson Rivers University• University of British Columbia• UBC Okanagan• University of the Fraser Valley• University of Northern British
Columbia• University of Victoria• Vancouver Island University• Adler School of Professional
Psychology• Trinity Western University• Quest University
ALBERTA (8)• Ambrose University College• Grant McEwan College• University of Calgary• Lethbridge College• King’s University College
MANITOBAUniversity of Manitoba
SASKATCHEWAN (13)University of Saskatchewan
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Geographic & Institutional Representation (numerical data from 2010; representation data from 2008-10)
Ontario (11)• Brock University• Huron University College at the
University of Western Ontario• King’s University College at the
University of Western Ontario• Queen’s University• University of Ottawa• McMaster University• University of Toronto• University of Western Ontario• University of Guelph Quebec (2)• McGill University• Concordia University
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Geographic & Institutional Representation (numerical data from 2010; representation data from 2008-10)
New Brunswick• University of New Brunswick
Nova Scotia (3)• Saint Mary’s University• Dalhousie University
Newfoundland• Memorial University
Prince Edward Island (2)• University of Prince Edward Island
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Geographic & Institutional Representation (cumulative 2008-10)
The United States (26)• Western Washington University• University of Oregon• University of California at Los Angeles
Germany• University of Mannheim
Australia• Edith Cowan University (potential for 2011)
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A Few Sample TitlesTo Be Or Not To Be: Origins of Gender Identity and their Effects on Behaviour
The Timing of Reward Signals in Medial-Frontal Cortex Change with Learning
Sexual Guilt and Acculturation: Potential Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening Practices Among Chinese Canadian Women
Tell Me a Story: The Art and Alzheimer's Project
The Effects of Pre-Release Publicity of Criminal Offenders on Public Opinion
The Role of Memory in Math Skills in University Students
Why Risk It? A Study on the Link between Risky Behavior and Developmental Instability
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Revisiting Gate Control Theory: Opposing a Monopoly on Pain Discourse
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The Faculty / Administration Organizing Team
Faculty
2 dedicated Faculty Advisors and multiple faculty volunteers
Administration
1 Dean, 1 Associate Dean
Staff
1 Dept. Assistant
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Student Organizing Teams Structure 1 Student Head; 1 Faculty Head; 1-3 student volunteers
Abstract Selection
Events
Registration
Marketing
Budgets
Website
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2008 Student / Faculty Organizing TeamL to R: Thomas Kerslake, Dr. Catherine Rawn, Dr. Jocelyn Lymburner, Oscar Astete, Levente Orban, Dr. Farhad Dastur, Dr. Ashiq Ali Shah, Nicole Pernat
19The Student Organizing Team (CM 2008)
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“No Ruby Red Slippers…”
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Financial Considerations: Expenses
Budget
$30,000 per conference
Expenses• Catering• Marketing• Speaker Fees (airfare, hotel, ground transport, honorarium)• Videorecording• Musicians• Travel Grants• Best Presentation Awards• Website Costs
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Financial Considerations: Income
Revenue Generation
Approximately $6000 based on a $40 registration fee
Sponsorships (Financial and In-kind)• Office of the Dean of Social Sciences• Office of the Vice-President Academic• Kwantlen Student Life and Development• Kwantlen Student Association• Office of the Chief Information Officer• Other institutional partners (e.g., UFV)• Publishers: Pearson Education, Worth Publishers, Nelson Education
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What the Student Organizing Team Learns
Lesson 1: Faculty Student Mentorship
The CM organizing team works closely with faculty advisors and learn skills related to organization, department priorities, management of expectations, and institutional processes.
Richard Light identifies this as one of the most important influences of the undergrad experience
Making the Most of College: Students Speak Their MindsRichard J. Light, Harvard University Press, 2001.
Lesson 2: Project Management
Must work on complex differentiated tasks in a deadline-driven and dynamically changing environment
Lesson 3: Budgeting, Fundraising, Sponsorship
Financial transparency, accountability, and conflicts of interest
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What the Student Organizing Team Learns
Lesson 4: Team building
Learn to manage emotions and work in an integrated way with challenging personalities
Lesson 5: Conflict Resolution
Learn methods for resolving interpersonal conflicts
Lesson 6: Communication skills
Refine oral and written competencies; learn how to pitch message to different audiences (sponsors, students, faculty)
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What the Student Organizing Team Learns
Lesson 7: Marketing
The Connecting Minds “brand”
Poster design, social networking
Lesson 8: Technology Skills
Project management applications; facebook, website interface design
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What the Student Presenters Learn
Presentation & Organizational Skills• How to organize thoughts in a clear, concise, and persuasive way
Communication Skills• How to deliver a succinct 20-minute oral presentation or poster summary
Enculturation• How knowledge is shared in scholarly communities• Learn and manifest disciplinary and inter-disciplinary language and
methodologies
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What the Student Presenters Learn
Critical Thinking Skills• Opportunity to engage in critical discussions
Broadening of Perspective• Learn about the range of psychological research occurring across Canada
and globally
Engagement, Student Identity, and Fellowship• Recognize that there is a community of students, educators, and scholars
interested in the discipline• Enhances student identification with a discipline
“I’m a student” “I’m a Mt. Royal student” “I’m a Psyc major”
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7 Reasons Why Undergraduate Research Conferences Matter
1. Developing evidence-based conclusions and defending their data, methods, theories, and conclusions
2. They complete the research cycle and reinforce the public, transparent, and free nature of scholarship
3. They educate students into the cultural standards of scholarly communities
4. They are good opportunities for students to network with other student and faculty researchers
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7 Reasons Why Undergraduate Research Conferences Matter
5. They foster engagement by giving a forum for students to demonstrate independent learning
6. They encourage students to consider graduate or professional schools
7. The circle of experiential learning is completed when the student reflects on what they have learned and shares that reflection.
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Undergraduate Research Conferences are not “nice to have” they are “important to have”
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What Can A Dean / Associate Dean Do?
Leadership: Use your power, influence, and charm to help create the conditions that motivate and enable Departments and Student Clubs to want to organize an undergraduate
research conference
Facilitation Use your power, influence, and charm to facilitate intra- and
inter-institutional partnerships
Cut through red-tape and bureaucratic obstacles
Start-up Provide Seed-Funding
Funding Our goal is to make the conference self-supporting
through registration fees, volunteers, and sponsorships.
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Opportunities for Interdisciplinary, Service, & Experiential Learning
• A student from the Graphical Design for Marketing (GDMA) program was commissioned to design the Conference Logo
• A student from the Bachelor in Journalism degree was commissioned to do the video-recording and editing of the keynote lecture
• A quartet from the Music Program provided musical entertainment
• I am proposing a new Institutional Service Learning course that will give formal (and flexible) credit for students who provide significant services or assistance to the organization or enhancement of the conference
e.g., website development, marketing, etc.
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Future Directions for Connecting Minds
• Internationalize the conference by offering Virtual Presentation Sessions• Pilot with undergrads from Edith Cowan University in Perth, Australia
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Future Directions
• Increase cross-disciplinary involvement
• Web-based Registration system (PayPal)
• Increase recruitment by inviting Grade 11 and 12 students
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Some Photos and Comments
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Elliot Aronson and 4 future scholars from The University of Calgary
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Nineteen Undergrad Presenters from Western Washington University
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Student Feedback
“INCREDIBLE event. Thanks all for putting together such a first-rate conference. We've already started recommending it to all our faculty and students for upcoming years.”
--Charmaine
“Loved the conference so much! Thanks for such a great event! You made us feel so welcomed and all of the research everyone presented was really interesting and impressive! You can count on WWU students for next year!”
--Alicia
(Source: Connecting Minds Facebook site)
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Resources
Council on Undergraduate Research Mission Statement:
To support and promote high-quality undergraduate student-faculty collaborative research and scholarship.
Lymburner, J., & Dastur, F. (2010). Handbook on How to Organize and Undergraduate Conference: Lessons Learned. Unpublished manuscript.
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Upcoming Events
2011 Rising Stars of Research Cross-Disciplinary Undergraduate Research ConferenceCo-organized by UBC and UNBC
Creating a Culture of Research on Campus: A Seminar for Deans, Faculty, IT Specialists, Librarians, and Research Officers October 15-16, 2010Williamsburg, Virginia
International Perspectives on Undergraduate Research and Inquiry: A Scholarly Discussion October 19, 2010Liverpool, UK
Creativity, Inquiry, and Discovery: Undergraduate Research In and Across the Disciplines November 11-13, 2010Durham, NC
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