Stetson Undergraduate Research
and Creative Arts Symposium

(SURCAS)

~ Wednesday, April 7, 2010 ~

A Celebration of Achievement
 at Stetson University

Click here to go to the 2009 Abstract Book. 

BACKGROUND: This event, with its debut in 1999 with the name Undergraduate Scholarship and Performance Day (USAPD), and then known as Undergraduate Scholarship Day (USD) through 2006, was designed to foster an appreciation for academic achievements here at Stetson University. The student presenters have a wonderful opportunity to share their research, projects, portfolios and performances with the Stetson University community. Over the past few years, the student projects have included a variety of excellent student projects, and music and theater performances.

The judging panel is comprised of a diverse group of individuals each with their own specialty training. To reflect the liberal arts environment of Stetson and the many areas of student research study, this judging panel will be comprised of individuals who can appreciate the work completed in this environment. It is the goal to provide a judging panel that will be asking insightful questions about each diverse project and will be interacting with the student presenter to learn more about the area and allow the student to show their own expertise.

While many of these students have had the opportunity to present their scholarly work at professional meetings across the county, we would like to provide an additional opportunity for them to show off their wonderful work to faculty and their fellow students here at Stetson.  Thus, this event will be constructed very much like an interdisciplinary professional conference.  All students and faculty are invited to attend the presentations/performances.  Times and venues will be announced ASAP after the application deadline of Monday, March 15, 2010.

ELIGIBILITY: All undergraduate students enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences, The School of Business or the School of Music are eligible to take part in this event. Any classroom project/paper, summer internship results, senior project, recital performance, art work, short story, poetry or other academic topic is eligible for presentation.

Applications for the Stetson University Undergraduate Research and Creative Arts Symposium for 2010 are due Monday, March 15, 2010. 

FORMAT OF PRESENTATIONS AND PERFORMANCES: To accommodate as many different ways to present scholarly and creative works in an academic setting as possible, we have several suggested formats (all must adhere to a ten-minute time frame). Presenters are responsible for ensuring that materials necessary for presentations arrive at venues timely and in proper order.

* Oral presentation (10 min, projector and laptop available for power point presentations, but use of power point is not required)
* Poster presentation (poster board forum) -- Note: Instructional Media Services has a web page which outlines specifics for how to produce posters on the large poster printer.  For information, see www.stetson.edu/mediaservices/posters.php and if you need further assistance, call IMS at 822-7182 or drop by their offices in the basement of the duPont Ball Library (accessed from the north side of the library).
* Reading a paper (we recommend some visual aids or handouts as well)
* Recital of music combined with discussion thereof
* Reading of poetry, fiction, or creative non-fiction combined with discussion thereof
* Brief dramatic performance combined with discussion thereof
* Exhibition of visual and plastic art works combined with oral presentation
* Demonstration of digital artwork combined with discussion thereof

Note: Since the audience will be composed of students and faculty from all disciplines and backgrounds, tailor your presentations to the appropriate level understandable to a non-specialist in your field. Discussions of creative presentations should help non-specialists to understand the craft you have put into your work. Previous winners have been successful with this technique.

JUDGING CRITERIA AND PRIZES:  Each group of judges for each specific location will be deciding among themselves the appropriate and consistent criteria that will help them decide which presentations were most effective. In general, students are asked to discuss their projects at a level that anyone not knowing the area can understand. Part of an effective presentation is effective communication, and we ask that the judges keep this as a consistent criteria for choosing the best presentation for all involved.   

Maris Prize: The winners of each of the locations will receive a Maris Prize of $200 and a certificate of excellence. Also, for each venue, an honorable mention will be chosen as well.  

2009 SURCAS AWARDS

POSTER AWARD

Maris Prize: Ashlie Arroyo

Is phenotypic plasticity costly? Case study of Brassica rapa under varying water stress and subsequent effect(s) on fitness

Honorable Mention:  Joseph W. Biondolillo

The effects of blocking pontine metabotropic glutamate receptors on taste reactivity behaviors in conscious rats

ORAL SEMINAR-STYLE PRESENTIONS – SESSION I

Maris Prize: Sam Rabin

The viability of former pastureland as habitat for the Florida scrub jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) in Seminole State Forest

Honorable Mention: Amber Moss

Morphogenetic Effects of Thimerosal on Neural Development in Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) Embryos

ORAL SEMINAR-STYLE PRESENTIONS – SESSION II

Maris Prize: Ishabel Vicaria

Hemispheric Differences in Identifying Emotionally Expressive Body Movements

Honorable Mention: Thomas Joyce

Under Pressure: Pressures and Expectations Placed Upon Men in Their Daily Lives During the 1950’s

ORAL SEMINAR-STYLE PRESENTIONS – SESSION III

Maris Prize: Rebecca Hallum

The Responsible Voter

Honorable Mention: Melissa Ann Lussier

Young Girls: Sexual Agents or Victims of Hyper-Sexuality?

ORAL SEMINAR-STYLE PRESENTIONS – SESSION IV

Maris Prize: Sarah Edwards

The Millennial Generation: Emerging Trends in Student Civic Engagement and Corporate Responsibility

Honorable Mention: Gentry Mander

Role of Environmental Degradation in the Success of the Ecuadorian Indigenous Movement