Showcase to spotlight undergraduate research
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 18, 2024) — Next week, more than 450 UK undergraduates will converge for the 18th annual Showcase of Undergraduate Scholars. The Showcase empowers undergraduates to share their discoveries, ideas and creative works with the campus community and public.
The Showcase on Wednesday, April 24, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Gatton Student Center Grand Ballroom, features 450 students and 373 presentations representing 94 disciplines and 17 colleges.
Each spring, the Showcase brings together undergraduates from all disciplines, their faculty mentors and members of the community. At UK, undergraduate research is central to creating a well-rounded student experience. Research and applied professional experiences further achievements and outcomes for both students and faculty and strengthen the university as a whole.
“The Showcase of Undergraduate Scholars presents a distinct opportunity for students to share the results of their research efforts to the broader UK community, a community that is driven to seek out knowledge,” said Chad Risko, faculty director of the Office of Undergraduate Research. “The Showcase also presents the chance for students, and faculty and staff alike, to learn more about the large and diverse range of research that takes place across campus and see firsthand the fantastic research outcomes of their peers.”
Students have the opportunity to present their work through oral sessions, posters, exhibits or performances and learn from each other about a broad range of exciting research topics. It not only provides a learning experience for the participants, but for the attendees as well, who gain more knowledge about the world around them, as well as the depth of undergraduate involvement in research at UK.
“The Showcase is a perfect way to become comfortable talking about your research, especially if you are new to presenting, because it offers a more relaxed environment,” said Kaitlyn Brock, junior neuroscience and psychology major in the College of Arts and Sciences. “I had an amazing experience meeting researchers outside of my discipline and learning about the cool projects they were working on.”
During the award ceremony, four outstanding faculty mentors will be recognized. The student-nominated award is presented to UK research faculty mentors for their commitment to mentoring undergraduate researchers, providing exceptional experiences for students and supporting undergraduate research initiatives on campus. This year, a record number of 53 faculty members were nominated, representing 31 disciplines and 10 colleges. View this year’s nominees here.
The Showcase of Undergraduate Scholars is open to the public. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to attend. View the schedule of events and student presentation information here.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.