The Washington State University Showcase for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (SURCA) is going to pack the CUB Senior Ballroom with eager students sharing their mentored research findings from 3:30-4:45 p.m. Monday, March 25. SURCA awards to top presenters will start at 5:00 p.m. in the CUB Auditorium and can also be viewed on YouTube. Both events are open and free to guests.
“We are very happy to feature 206 posters from 256 students from all six WSU campuses and to welcome 209 judges to hear descriptions of their work and results,” said Jeremy Lessmann, director of the WSU Office of Undergraduate Research. It is part of the Division of Academic Engagement and Student Achievement in the provost’s office.
Lessmann said that this year the number of judges is the largest ever in SURCA history, and the number of presenters ties those of 2018 for the most. The number of posters is the second highest in SURCA history.
“It seems to point to a rising level of interest and participation by undergraduates from all majors and years in college who conduct research, scholarship, and creative activities with a mentor. And the number of volunteer judges from both within WSU and beyond indicates strong support for our students.”
The interest in SURCA is consistent with WSU’s strong history of students participating in undergraduate research. Recent results from the 2023 National Survey for Student Engagement (NSSE) indicate that 21% of WSU seniors system-wide reported they had engaged in undergraduate research with a mentor.
At SURCA, posters are divided into nine categories. All disciplines are covered by STEM, humanities, and social science projects.
This year’s topics are creative and diverse, said Lessmann. Examples include projects on:
- estrogen on lateral-line hair cells in zebrafish
- Ansel Adams-inspired photography
- TikTok use and cognitive functioning
- changes in mountain caribou habitat in the south Selkirks
- metabolism of BPA by sulfonation in cats versus other animals
- pediatric clinic design to reduce client stress and clinician burnout.
An online searchable presentation list features these and all other abstracts plus information about each presenter’s campus, major, and mentor.
The first event of the week’s celebration of scholarly achievements known as WSU Showcase, SURCA is the unique, single, and annual venue for undergraduates systemwide to disseminate the results of their mentored research. Awards can be presented in each category to the top novice, early-career, and experienced researchers for their ideas, methods, and output; delivery of presentation; and fielding of questions.
