FAQs for SURCA
Do you have questions about the first annual Showcase for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (SURCA)? Check these Frequently Asked Questions first for answers!
Can an undergraduate student submit a paper for both Academic Showcase in the morning and SURCA, the undergraduate research competition, in the afternoon?
Yes! But be sure to check the participation requirements on the Academic Showcase website and the SURCA participant information and SURCA participation categories.
Note that posters are acceptable media for both events, but oral presentations and demonstrations of students' "research, scholarship, and creative activities" are possible only at SURCA. And that awards will be made in SURCA to around 50 students, with additional awards presented by select campus programs.
If I applied to present a poster in either Academic Showcase or SURCA, am I automatically entered in both events?No!, students must apply separately to both.
Why are there two deadlines for abstract submissions for the two events?
SURCA and Academic Showcase are two individual events in WSU Showcase that have many things in common, including the fact that they on the same day (one in the morning and one in the afternoon) and that both showcase the broad spectrum of research taking place across the university. Administratively, they operate seperately from one another.
The deadline for submitting an abstract for Academic Showcase is Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012 at 5:30 p.m. and the deadline submitting an abstract for SURCA is Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. For both, the deadline dates and times are adhered to strictly.
Why haven't I known about SURCA before?The planning for SURCA as a new event has evolved over a period of months, with the final decision to hold it in conjunction with WSU Showcase (including the popular Academic Showcase poster event) being finalized in mid January.
And while it is new, it has its roots in older events, That is, it allows many colleges to combine efforts and seize economics of scale in providing a single venue in which undergraduates can share their mentored "research, scholarship, and creative activites that make an original intellectual or creative contribution to their discipline." Also, SURCA is the "next generation" of the former Undergraduate Research Symposium, which was the only event open to all students (freshmen through seniors) in all majors.
The website at http://surca.wsu.edu gives much more information about the event, and it is updated frequently with the latest news.
Which category is the best category for students in my department?
It always depends on the research or creative activity. There is no one "best" category. A careful reading of SURCA's Participation Categories will be very helpful for every student and mentor as they decide which category best applies to their research.
For example, in a diverse department like Apparel Merchandising and Interior Design some students may submit in the Engineering and Physical Sciences category; others might submit in the Social Sciences or Arts and Design categories, depending on their work.
Can Running Start students apply to participate in SURCA?
Yes!, Running Start students can apply; if they are enrolled as WSU students, their entries can be judged and be eligible for awards.
I received an Auvil Scholars Fellowship in fall 2011 and had planned to participate in SURCA in spring, but something has come up. Who can I talk to about my Auvil obligations?
Please get in touch ASAP with Shelley Pressley, director of Undergraduate Research, at spressley@wsu.edu.
I believe I qualify to participate in SURCA, but I am not available to be at the event on the afternoon of March 30 in Pullman. Who should I talk to?Please contact Shelley Pressley, director of Undergraduate Research, at spressley@wsu.edu.
What if I forget to bring my PowerPoint presentation for my oral presentation?
Plan ahead for all possibilities—good and bad. You must drop off a copy of any visual aid in the morning to the CUB Junior Ballroom between 9-11:30 a.m. But having a copy on an extra thumb drive could be a good idea when you come for your presentation. Technology will be available whether you created it using a MAC or PC.
What if the time I'm assigned to for my oral presentation isn't going to work for me on that day?
Send an email ASAP to ltibbals@wsu.edu to seek a different slot.
By the time I submitted my abstract, all of the slots for oral presentations were taken and I have to do a poster instead. Where do I begin?
Check out the information page for poster presenters. Work with your mentor to plan to format your work in a poster.
What if I forget to bring my poster that morning, or I'm late that morning?
Plan ahead for all possibilities—good and bad. If you turn in your poster late, you may not be able to participate in this year's SURCA.
What if the time for poster presentations isn't going to work for me on that day?
Send an email ASAP to ltibbals@wsu.edu.
I have never made a poster before. Where do I begin?
Work with your mentor to plan to format your work in a poster. The UndergraduateResearch.wsu.edu website may also be helpful to you as you think about organizing your poster and presentation to the judges.
I have made some progress in my research project but, at this time, I'm afraid I don't have any "new" results. Should I still participate in SURCA?
Yes!, definitely. We feel it's important to disseminate your knowledge as part of the research experience. Don't worry about "not having any results" because you will still have plenty to share about the goals of your research, your methods, your motivation for this type of work, etc. Research takes time, and we are excited to hear about yours at all stages. In SURCA, there are categories for "early career" and "novice" researchers, so depending on how long you have done your work, you may be eligible for an award in these areas.
SURCA Abstract Booklet 2012
