Undergraduates to present research in unique 48-hour forum
On 27 September, undergraduate students from seven universities across five continents will take part in the International Conference of Undergraduate Researchers (ICUR). An initiative of the Monash Warwick Alliance (MWA), ICUR offers students the opportunity to engage in a multi-disciplinary academic conference that spans multiple faculties, universities and time zones.
Through video conferencing technology, participants will share their research projects with international peers, who can offer valuable feedback in real time. The student-led event, which is in its fourth year, will begin at Monash University and Japan’s Kyushu University on the morning of 27 September, and will progressively roll out across the world at partner institutions, to close on 28 September at universities in the United States, United Kingdom and South Africa.
ICUR’s Executive Sponsors are Monash University’s Professor Darrell Evans, Vice-Provost (Learning and Teaching) and the University of Warwick’s Professor Christina Hughes, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Teaching and Learning).
Professor Evans said the event gives students international and cross-disciplinary presentation experience, which is rare at the undergraduate level.
“Being able to present your research effectively to different audiences is a critical skill for researchers to develop. It is exciting to see students embracing the learning and networking opportunities offered by ICUR with such enthusiasm,” Professor Evans said.
Professor Hughes said the event gives students insight into the value of research.
"Well-designed research needs to be combined with a commitment to trying to resolve some of the large, and small, issues that confound us. I am so glad that [ICUR students] have the opportunity to experience the excitement, and the challenges, of doing research,” Professor Hughes said.
Professor Andrew Coats, Academic Vice President and Director of the MWA, will be keynote speaker at the event.
ICUR 2016 institutional partners are:
- Baruch College, City University of New York (USA)
- Kyushu University (Japan)
- Monash University (Australia, Malaysia and South Africa)
- Nanyang Technological University (Singapore)
- University of Leeds (UK)
- University of North Carolina, Greensboro (USA)
- University of Warwick (UK)
More information on the event, including a full program, can be found on the ICUR website.
Formed in early 2012, the Monash Warwick Alliance represents an innovation in higher education and research and aims to accelerate the exchange of people, ideas and information between Monash University and the University of Warwick.