The University of Idaho Argonaut

The Graduate and Professional Student Association is hosting the Spring Research Expo April 25 in the Idaho Commons and undergraduate and law students are
welcome.
This is the first year the expo is open to law students because there was no interest in previous years, said Karen Vaughan, a graduate student in plant soil and entomological science.
It is the second year it is open to undergraduate students, said GPSA President Craig Watt.

Registration for students closed Sunday. Faculty judge registration is open until 5 p.m. Friday. Enrollment in almost all categories is up this year, Watt said. This year 10 undergraduates are signed up, up from five last year. Forty graduate students are signed up for the event, up from 38 last year. However, Watt said only 11 faculty judges have signed up, down significantly from last year’s event. Watt said the expo needs at least 36 judges.

“This event will fail without adequate numbers of volunteer judges,” Watt said.
Judges will receive a boxed lunch for participating and the college with the most faculty and staff participating will receive a financial award and recognition, he said.
Judges can register online at www.apsa.uidaho.edu/researchexpo.htm.

University of Idaho students and faculty have five ways to participate in the expo — as undergraduate students, graduate and law students, faculty judges, non-research artists and
volunteers.

Graduate and law students will present their research to faculty judges from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Presentations will be 15-18 minutes long. Undergraduate research posters will be on display during the day in the Commons Whitewater and Clearwater rooms. Refreshments will be served at 5 p.m.

“The expo is a great place for graduate students to present their research,” Vaughan said.
At 6 p.m., an award ceremony will be held in the Summit Room, where certificates and awards will be given out. Everyone who participates will receive a certificate of participation and the graduate student who receives the highest praise for their presentation will receive $500. Two awards of $100 each will be given to non-student artwork.

“I am looking forward to sharing my research on campus and to a broader audience than just my department,” said Leigh Winowiecki, graduate student in plant soil and entomological science.
Winowiecki said she has received grants from the university to help with her research and this is her chance to show them what she has been doing and where their money has been spent.

Faculty members will judge the presentations and give students feedback.
The expo gives students the experience to present their research, Vaughan said.
She said she is defending her thesis two weeks after the expo and it should give her the extra practice she needs.

“We are looking for research relevant to the student’s major,” Watt said. “It doesn’t have to be ground breaking research.”
Students will be judged on their visual aides, skills and presentation style, Watt said.
The expo is sponsored by GPSA, the College of Graduate Studies, University Research Office and the Provost Office.
Winners of the GPSA elections will be announced at the award ceremony. The positions open are president, vice president and senators. Nominations are due April 15.

Those nominated will have a biography on the GPSA Web site on April 16. The online election is scheduled for April 22-24.
For more information, visit www.gpsa.uidaho.edu/researchexpo.htm