Guidelines

GENERAL INFORMATION:

• To learn more, make sure you carefully read all tabbed sections of this page.  Further questions should be directed to undergradresearch@northewestern.edu or 847-467-0499.
• The Expo is open to all Northwestern University undergraduates in any field and in any class year.  Students who have or will be presenting their projects at other forums are eligible and encouraged to apply.
• All submissions will be made through our on-line application system.  CLICK HERE TO APPLY.
• To fill out an application, you will need the following information: your contact information; the names and contact information of any undergraduates who will be co-presenting with you at the Expo; the name, phone, and email of your faculty supervisor(s); the class name/number or other auspices under which you conducted your research project; and an abstract of 250 words or less describing your project.  If you are accepted, this description of your project will be printed in the Expo program.
• Abstracts should be intelligible for an educated, but non-expert, non-technical audience.  People from all backgrounds and fields should find this description of your project accessible. Please consult our Guide to Writing an Abstract for the Exposition for advice and sample abstracts.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.  You may open a submission file, save it, and return to complete it at a later date.  Please make sure to spell-check and proofread your proposal.

POSTER PRESENTATIONS:

• There will be two poster sessions during the Expo: one in the morning and one in the afternoon.  Each session will last 1 ½ hours.
• Posters should be intelligible for an educated, but non-expert, non-technical audience.  People from all backgrounds and fields will be visiting students' posters and hearing what they have learned.
• Group presentations are welcome.
• You will be required to stand by your posters during the session and make brief (3 minutes or less) presentations about your work.  Again, the presentation should be intelligible for an educated, but lay audience.
• Two workshops will be offered for interested students to help prepare an effective poster presentation.  These will be held in Hardin Hall on April 30 at 4pm and May 1 at 12pm. 
• Faculty judges will be assigned to every poster.  Awards will be given to the best posters, as judged by the faculty, in each session.  Awards will be broken down by the three research divisions: Natural Sciences and Engineering, Social Sciences and Journalism, and Arts, Humanities, and Performance.
• In addition, a People’s Choice Award will be given to the favorite poster from each session, as voted on by attendees.  Bring your friends!
• Award winners will be notified in the days following the Expo.
• For information on preparing and setting up your poster, please see Guidelines for Poster Presentations and How to Prepare a Poster.
• You will be asked which session is better for your schedule, but due to the logistics involved, all requests can not be guaranteed.

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

A limited number of students will be selected by the Expo Steering Committee to give an oral presentation. If you want to be considered for an oral presentation, please indicate this preference on the standard application.

• Those projects chosen will be placed on themed panels led by a faculty moderator.
• All oral presentations will be 8-10 minutes long.
• You will be required to attend two presentation workshops prior to the Expo to aid with the process of transitioning your work to this format.  No matter what your background or previous experience is, you will be required to attend both workshops if you would like to present your work in this format.
• Oral presentation panels will be part of “Lunch and Learn” sessions at the Expo.  There will be two sets of oral presentation panels: one starting at 11:00 and the other starting at 1:00.  Lunch will be served to all in attendance. 

MSC JUDGE

• For the past few years, the Expo has collaborated with the Meaningful Science Consortium (MSC) program.  This program looks to promote and develop interest in science and engineering in students from disadvantaged schools within the Chicago Public School system.
• MSC students hold their own poster sessions, and starting in 2010, we offered student judging of them.  Undergraduate students were paired with someone from The Graduate School to judge a set of posters.
• Awards are given to students based upon your score sheets.
• If you are interested in being a judge, please contact the Expo Coordinator at undergradresearch@northwestern.edu.
• You do not need to submit an application via the online system.  Simply explain your interest and background in your email.

CREATIVE ARTS FESTIVAL

See the next tab over.

CREATIVE ARTS FESTIVAL

New to the 2012 Expo!  The end of the Expo will now be dedicated to the incredible creative work done on campus.  The Festival will have four components: Creative Writing Showcases, a Student Film Festival, a Visual Arts Showcase, and a Performance Arts Showcase. Here is a great opportunity to share your work with a broad audience.

CREATIVE WRITING SHOWCASE

• To apply, please submit a regular Expo application, selecting "creative/performing arts" for your Project Area and requesting an "oral presentation."  In the "Special Notes" box, please indicate your desire to participate in the Creative Writing Showcase.
• A panel will judge the applications and select participants for the Creative Writing Showcase.

• You will be required to attend a presentation workshop prior to the Expo to aid with the process of transitioning your work to this format.  No matter what your background or previous experience is, you will be required to attend this workshop if you would like to present your work in this format.
• If you are not selected for the showcase, you will have the option of presenting your work in one of our poster sessions.  Please indicate on your application which poster session would be more convenient for you.
• Questions? Contact Peter Civetta.

STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL

• To apply, please submit a regular Expo application, selecting "creative/performing arts" for your Project Area and requesting an "oral presentation."  In the "Special Notes" box, please indicate your desire to participate in the Student Film Festival.
• At the end of your abstract, please indicate how long your film is.
• As our application system was not built for this new type of submission, please email a link to your film to undergradresearch@northwestern.edu, or drop off a thumb drive with the film to Peter Civetta at the Rebecca Crown Center (clock tower plaza across from Burger King on Clark Street).  Come to the West Tower, on the main floor, and to room 118.  Please make sure we have your film by Monday, April 23rd.
• A panel will judge the applications and select participants for screening at the Expo.
• Films of any length are acceptable.  After your screening, you will have the opportunity to do a question and answer session with the audience.

• You will be required to attend a logisitics meeting with Norris technical staff prior to the Expo to aid with the flow of the event.  You will be required to attend this workshop if you would like to screen your film.
• If you are not selected for the showcase, you will have the option of presenting your work in one of our poster sessions.  Please indicate on your application which poster session would be more convenient for you.
• Questions? Contact Peter Civetta.

PERFORMING ARTS SHOWCASE

• To apply, please submit a regular Expo application, selecting "creative/performing arts" for your Project Area and requesting an "oral presentation."  In the "Special Notes" box, please indicate your desire to participate in the Performing Arts Showcase.
• Performances of any type are welcome: musical ensembles, monologues, stand-up, scenes from a directing/devising class, original music are just a few of the types of performances we encourage you to submit.
• At the end of your project abstract, indicate how long your performance will be and what sort of space you will need.  The Showcase will occur in the Norris Louis Room.  While there may be a small stage for you to use, plan to adapt your performance to the open space provided.  Expected performance times are 5-8 minutes long.  Part of the challenge is to find your best material to fit within this time framework, but you are free to make an argument for why you need more time. 
• Please list any significant props, set pieces, and/or costumes in your application, noting that no open flames, firing guns, and smoke are allowed.  Applications may be reviewed by the Office of Risk Management to ensure safety regulations are followed.
• Advising is available for students wondering how to make their performances fit this format.  Contact Peter Civetta.
• If you feel it would help our decision-making process to see/hear your work, please email a link of it to undergradresearch@northwestern.edu, or drop off a thumb drive to Peter Civetta at the Rebecca Crown Center (clock tower plaza across from Burger King on Clark Street).  Come to the West Tower, on the main floor, and to room 118.  Please make sure we have it by Monday, April 23rd.
• A panel will judge the applications and select participants for the Performing Arts Festival.

• You will be required to attend a pre-performance workshop and logisitics meeting prior to the Expo to aid with the flow of the event.  You will be required to attend this workshop if you would like to perform.

VISUAL ARTS SHOWCASE

• To apply, please submit a regular Expo application, selecting "creative/performing arts" for your Project Area and requesting an "oral presentation."  In the "Special Notes" box, please indicate your desire to participate in the Visual Arts Showcase.  In addition, please email images of your work along with any logistic needs to present it to Peter Civetta.
• Diverse forms of visual art are welcome: photography, sculpture, painting, mixed-media are just a few of the types of art forms we encourage you to submit.
• As our application system was not built for this new type of submission, please email copies of your work to undergradresearch@northwestern.edu, or drop off a thumb drive with your material to Peter Civetta at the Rebecca Crown Center (clock tower plaza across from Burger King on Clark Street).  Come to the West Tower, on the main floor, and to room 118.  Please make sure we have it by Monday, April 23rd.
• A panel will judge the applications and select participants for the Visual Arts Festival.
• Pieces will be presented during the entirity of the day-long Expo at a variety of locations.
• You will be required to attend a logisitics meeting with Norris technical staff prior to the Expo to aid with the flow of the event.  You will be required to attend this workshop if you would like to present your work.

• Questions?  Contact Peter Civetta.

Advising/Resources

Questions regarding the Expo should be directed to two people.  If you have questions specifically regarding Poster Presentations, contact Jana Measells.  If you have any other questions about the Expo (oral presentations, Creative Arts Festival, MSC judging, etc.), contact Peter Civetta.

APPLY FOR THE 2012 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH and ARTS EXPOSITION

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