VCU hosts Third Annual Student Research Week

By Frances Dumenci

Richmond, Va. (April 17, 2013) – Virginia Commonwealth University is hosting its Third Annual Student Research Week, a series of events that bring together undergraduate and graduate students from across disciplines to celebrate research and creative and scholarly projects.

Events and activities will take place from April 19 to April 27 on the Monroe Park Campus and MCV Campus of VCU.

During the week-long series, undergraduate and graduate students will present overviews of their projects, theses or dissertations. These projects span many academic disciplines, including the College of Humanities & Sciences and the schools of Allied Health Professions, Arts, Business, Education, Engineering, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work and Interdisciplinary Studies. Students will be available to demonstrate and discuss their projects.

The event is free and open to all students, faculty, staff and the public.

April 19        VCU School of Engineering Senior Design Expo
9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Science Museum of Virginia
2500 W. Broad St.
The Senior Design Expo allows undergraduate engineering students to share capstone senior projects with the greater Richmond community and to increase the awareness of the engineering profession among middle and high school students. Hosted by the Science Museum of Virginia.

April 22        Virginia/North Carolina Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Research Symposium
9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Commonwealth/Virginia Rooms, University Student Commons,
907 Floyd Ave.
Undergraduate students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines share their research experience with Alliance Institution members and the university community at-large. Presentations also will detail ongoing research at VCU and the Alliance Institutions, including Bennett College for Women, Elizabeth City State University, George Mason University, Johnson C. Smith University, Piedmont Virginia Community College, St. Augustine's University, University of Virginia and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

April 23        Graduate Student Research Symposium
11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Commonwealth Ballroom, Student Commons,
907 Floyd Ave.
Sponsored by the VCU Graduate Student Association, the annual research symposium is a forum for graduate students from all disciplines and departments to present their work to faculty, staff, students and community members.

April 24        Annual Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium
11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Commonwealth Ballroom, Student Commons,
907 Floyd Ave.
Students will present research endeavors to their academic peers, members of the VCU faculty, community members and friends and family.  Projects include research and scholarly work from a wide variety of academic disciplines. Event is organized by the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP).

Noon, Commonwealth Ballroom, Student Commons,
907 Floyd Ave.
Remarks from VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D.; Beverly Warren, Ed.D., Ph.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs; and Francis Macrina, Ph.D., VCU’s vice president for research

April 26        VCU School of Social Work Research Symposium
10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Commonwealth Ballroom, Student Commons,
907 Floyd Ave.
Graduate and undergraduate students from the VCU School of Social Work present their research and scholarly projects at this annual symposium.

VCU Venture Creation Competition
8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., Room B3189, Snead Hall, VCU School of Business
301 W. Main Street
4:30 p.m. Reception, Atrium, Snead Hall, VCU School of Business
5 p.m. Awards Ceremony, Atrium, Snead Hall, VCU School of Business
VCU’s da Vinci Center for Innovation hosts business plan competition aimed at sparking the entrepreneurial spirit of all VCU students across campus. Participants will have an opportunity to define their ideas in commercial terms and compete for cash prizes that can be then used to further the commercialization of their concepts, inventions and/or business ideas. More information can be found at http://www.davincicenter.vcu.edu/programs/vcc/
 
April 27        VCU Global Health Symposium
8 a.m. -- 1:30 p.m., Hermes A. Kontos Medical Sciences Building, Room 104-105
1217 E. Marshall St.
The symposium includes presentations by current and former participants in global health projects, a presentation of university globalization approaches and priorities, a poster display of current outreach efforts in global health at VCU and opportunities for networking with colleagues from all areas of the university to foster collaboration.

Research Week is sponsored by the VCU Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, VCU Graduate Student Association, the VCU Office of Research and the VCU Office of the Provost.

For more information and a complete schedule of events, contact Herb Hill at hhill@vcu.edu or (804) 828-4450.