TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Almost 200 undergraduates will showcase their research and creative activity projects at The University of Alabama’s inaugural “Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Conference,” April 21 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Ferguson Center on UA’s campus.

The event will display a wide variety of out-of-class research and creative activities by undergraduates while giving them practical experience in defending or performing their work before judges with the chance to win cash prizes and other awards.

UA’s College of Arts and Science hosted an undergraduate research and creative activities competition for the past four years and response from faculty and students was so positive that the Office of Academic Affairs elected to create a University-wide competition in 2008.

This competition is important because it provides students with experience that is essential for them to be at the top of their field, especially when it comes to applying for a job or to graduate school, according to Dr. David Francko, assistant vice president for academic affairs and dean of the graduate school at UA.

“Increasingly, participation in original research and creative activities is becoming a hallmark of the undergraduate experience at The University of Alabama,” said Dr. Judy Bonner, UA executive vice president and provost. “Our faculty constantly seeks new opportunities to engage our undergraduate students in quality research, discovery and creative endeavors that will define their academic experience at the Capstone.”

First, second and third place prizes will be given to the winners by each participating college, school and program. The first place prize is $250; second place, $100; and third place, $50. The Global Certificate Program will award a book scholarship to the winner of the best creative work, and the College of Engineering is providing travel funding to present at a meeting.

The schedule of the day’s events is as follows:

Oral Presentations, Ferguson Student Center

College of Arts and Sciences

College of Commerce and Business Administration

College of Communication and Information Sciences

College of Human Environmental Sciences

School of Nursing

School of Social Work

Poster Presentations, Ferguson Student Center

All Colleges

Convening of Judges, Ferguson Student Center

Awards Presentations, Ferguson Student Center

The UA Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Conference is sponsored by UA’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Committee, the Graduate School, the Office of Research, and participating UA academic divisions. Those divisions are the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Commerce and Business Administration, Communication and Information Sciences, Engineering, and Human Environmental Sciences; the schools of Nursing and Social Work; and the Honors College, McNair Scholars, and the Global Certificate Program.

The University of Alabama, a student-centered research university, is in the midst of a planned, steady enrollment growth with a goal of reaching 28,000 students by 2010. This growth, which is positively impacting the campus and the state's economy, is in keeping with UA's vision to be the university of choice for the best and brightest students. UA, the state's flagship university, is an academic community united in its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all Alabamians.