Research & Creative Inquiry Forum

Undergraduate and graduate students from all disciplines present their research and creative activities at the university’s annual celebration of student scholarship.

The next Research & Creative Inquiry Forum will be held on Wednesday, April 17, 2019 from 1 to 3 p.m. in WVC, Ballrooms.  All members of the university community are encouraged to attend and the event is open to the public. 

Forum Eligibility Information

We strive to include as diverse an array of presentations as we can gather, so research is broadly defined as any academic activity resulting in a product. Presentations from all departments of the university are accepted and encouraged. This includes research done in pursuit of a class paper; project; or activity; a thesis; or an independent study. 

Forum Application Information

Generally, applications must include an abstract, as this is your opportunity to state your goals and summarize your research, activities and results. You must have a faculty mentor in order to present at the Forum.  Questions regarding the application may be directed to the Office of Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry at ourci AT_TOWSON.

advice on completing the application

• Look at previous presenter abstracts from your department or college for guidance on how to develop an abstract.
• In preparing your application, you should be clear and explanatory as the reviewers have only your abstract to determine the nature of your proposed presentation for the Forum.
• If you are planning to exhibit artwork, it is helpful to include a digital picture with the abstract. Film presenters should both describe the film in the abstract and submit a copy of the film for evaluation. Theatrical performers should include a script, etc.

Poster Presentation Information

An academic poster is a summary of your research, scholarly, or creative project in a visually engaging way. It must be academically sound, highlighting the context of your work (through photographs, maps, etc.), your methods, and results (with graphs, charts, photographs, etc.). Each Forum poster presenter will be provided half of an 8' x 4' presentation board for each poster display (board size is 96" x 48" and will display 2 posters).

presentation guidelines

• Visual/graphic art exhibits must be able to fit in the display area, on a 2 ft. x 4 ft. table, or on a standard collapsible easel. These items must be requested on the application.
• The ideal poster size is 36 inches tall and 48 inches wide. However, the poster must be no larger than 48 inches (4 feet) wide by 48 inches (4 feet) high.
• Posters should be readable from at least three feet away; the presentation title should be at least 2 inches high.
• Try to stay practical with standard fonts. Times New Roman, Arial, and Garamond are all legible and readable.
• Like a brochure, a poster is not meant to overwhelm the reader with text. Try to space out your information in a way that is informative, attractive, and useful.
• Graphics, pictures, and figures should be used whenever possible.
• Include on the poster the following information: name(s) of student author(s), name of faculty research mentor, and Towson University.

resources for poster development

• Student Computing Services is available to assist student researchers in printing research posters free of charge. Information about poster design and printing in contained in the following documents: SCS Poster Templates and SCS Poster Production Guide.
• Developing a Winning Poster Presentation (PDF)
• Giving an Effective Poster Presentation at an Event (Video)

Presentation Tips

The poster session is more of an interaction than a presentation - less formal or structured, more conversational. To do a successful poster presentation, you should prepare an “elevator speech” – a one to two-minute summary of your project that you could deliver to anyone during a typical elevator ride. Don’t wait for viewers to ask a question; say, “Would you like to hear about my experience in about two minutes or less?”

• Presenters are expected to stand by their posters from 1 to 3 p.m. for presentations. Short breaks may be taken throughout this time.
• The poster should be able to stand on its own as a clear, logical presentation of your work, without any explanation from you.
• Poster presentations have the unique advantage of bringing you eye-to-eye with your colleagues so take advantage of this. Ask for suggestions, opinions, etc., not only about your research but also about your career. Professors, other students and many of the guests in attendance are great resources.