Dear Students,
Many students don’t realize the importance of communication skills in science. Great results in the lab have little impact if they are not communicated to anyone outside of the lab. Scientists work hard to disseminate their results to the world through papers, posters, talks, and other presentations. Moreover they work to develop their skills to effectively communicate their work to experts and non-experts alike.
Having opportunities to learn scientific communication skills is an issue I feel strongly about. I did not have much practice presenting scientific results until after I finished my PhD. When I needed to make critically important presentations, I felt under-prepared. Like anything, practicing and seeking to improve scientific communication is the only way to develop those skills. Moreover, sharing your results with others is a critical part of being a scientist.
Luckily, all of you have this kind of opportunity every year! Each year the College organizes the College of Natural Sciences Undergraduate Research Forum. This year it will take place on Friday, April 17, 2015 in Welch Hall.
All CNS undergraduate students who have participated in research with CNS faculty or with faculty in other colleges or at other institutions (e.g. summer REU participants, internships at state health agencies, internships in companies, etc) are encouraged to present. The event will feature poster oral presentations by our top student researchers as well as cash awards for research and presentation excellence. The Undergraduate Research Forum Web Site is found HERE. Posters are accepted at all levels: you can present a proposal for an experiment or study you would like to do and has been discussed with a faculty member; you can present a project you are building or in the process of undertaking; or you can present a poster on a project for which you've already obtained results.
Important Forum Dates
Intent to Submit an Abstract – Due February 27, 2015
https://cns.utexas.edu/undergrad-research-forum
If you are considering participating as an individual or part of a team, please fill out this short form.
If you have participated in a research project, I hope that you all take the opportunity to share your results with the rest of the college. The research forum is not only your chance to hone your science communication skills, but it is your chance to be part of the broader community of scientists looking to advance knowledge of our world.
Best,
-Dr. Vanden Bout
P.S. The weekly newsletter is above. We have a new webpage that will host the newsletter. Feel free to bookmark this link to always have it handy. Note the announcements are now organized into broad categories under the tabs at the top of the page.
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