What is the Celebrate Undergraduate Research and Creativity Showcase (CURC)?
For the past 15 years, CSU has celebrated the accomplishments of undergraduate researchers in a symposium where students have presented the results of their research. This year, the event will include a poster session, to be held April 21 and an awards ceremony on April 23.

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Where and when is the CURC Showcase poster session?
The CURC Showcase poster session will be held on Tuesday, April 21, 2009, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. in the Main Ballroom of the Lory Student Center on the CSU campus.

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What is the format of a presentation?
Most of the presentations are done in "poster" style.  That is, you create a visual presentation of the components that comprise your research or design project - the background, the motivation, the methods, the results, a discussion and any conclusions or summary you might have.  This presentation is mounted on a vertical poster board and you explain the parts of the research to people who stop by to look.  
It is possible that your work does not lend itself well to this format.  If that is the case, let the organizers know what would work better and we can try to accommodate something different.  What we cannot accommodate is an oral presentation of your work or a panel discussion format.  But we can be flexible if you need another format.

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Who can come to the CURC?
Anyone and everyone are invited to come to the events. We welcome you, your friends, and your family. We especially encourage your research advisor and family to come celebrate your accomplishments at the Awards Ceremony.

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What categories will be judged in the CURC?
Any and all undergraduate research or design projects are appropriate for the CURC.  Research and design projects are evaluated separately.

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What is necessary to participate in the CURC?
You must be a current CSU undergraduate student who has done research either on or off campus. You must also submit an application and abstract by Sunday March 29, 2009 and present a poster on your research on April 21, 2009.

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Can research that was done off the CSU campus be considered for the CURC?
Yes, as long as the student who did the research and applied for the CURC is a a current undergraduate student at CSU.

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What is the format for the abstract?
We don't have any requirements for the abstract. We encourage you to write no more than 200 words. The abstract should be a concise summary of the presentation including key points. You may include figures or schemes if they are necessary.  If your abstract includes a lot of special characters, you may want to email it in as well as submitting it online.

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Can I present more than one poster?
YES!  If you have been a part of more than one research project, either on or off campus, you can present the results from as many projects as you have worked on.

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How large can my poster be?
We will have a 4'x4' space available for your poster.  If your poster is larger than 4 feet x 4 feet, you will have trouble finding space to mount it.

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How will posters be displayed?
All posters will be attached to vertical poster boards that are 4 feet high. Pushpins will be provided to mount your poster. The University offers large format printing in the Weber computer lab.

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When is the deadline?
All applications are due by the deadline, March 29, 2009.

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How do I submit my application?
Applications will be accepted online at the CURC website  http://curc.colostate.edu/

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Who will judge the CURC?
Each poster will be evaluated by three judges who are CSU faculty or staff.  This year, we anticipate monetary awards for students earning honors for their presentations.

What criteria is used to judge my poster?
The criteria can be downloaded: Poster Grading Criteria (pdf) in PDF format.

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When can I set up my poster?
You can set up your poster on Monday April 20, 2009 after 5:00 pm or in the morning of the event 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. on April 21, 2009. If you are unable to do so during this time, please make arrangements for someone to set up your poster for you.

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When do I need to take my poster down?
Your poster needs to be taken down between 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. on April 21, 2009. If you are unable to do so during this time, please make arrangements for someone to take your poster down for you.

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Do I have to be present the whole time during the CURC?
No, but if you have a time conflict, we request that you let us know when you will be by your poster. Judges often prefer to judge your poster with you there rather than when you are not. Then you can explain the research if there are any questions.  Also, all instructors will be alerted to this event.  It is an official CSU event from which you can be excused from class.

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What is appropriate attire for presenting the poster?
Attire is really up to you. However, you will probably want to wear something that boosts your self-confidence, that is professional looking, but yet is comfortable.

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What can you tell me about the CURC Awards Ceremony?
An Awards Ceremony will take place on Thursday, April 23, 2009 from 4-6 pm in Yates 104. The Awards Ceremony will honor those students receiving highest or high honors for their poster presentations. The ceremony will also feature a Keynote address given by Dr. Maureen McCarthy and will focus on issues of science policy. Dr. McCarthy gives a great talk and will be on hand to meet students.

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If I still have questions, whom should I contact?
Questions can be directed to the CURC organizing committee:

Prof. Nancy Levinger – College of Natural Sciences (Levinger@lamar.colostate.edu)
Prof. Alexandra Bernasek – College of Liberal Arts, College of Business liaison (Alexandra.Bernasek@ColoState.edu)
Prof. Thomas Borch – College of Agriculture (Thomas.Borch@ColoState.edu)
Prof. Matt Hickey – College of Applied Human Sciences, College of Engineering liaison (hickey@CAHS.Colostate.edu)
Prof. Deborah Roess – College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Warner College of Natural Resources liaison (daroess@lamar.colostate.edu) 
Dr. Mark Brown – Office for Undergraduate Research and Artistry
(m.brown@colostate.edu)

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