Today, many students who have done Drake-sponsored research will have the chance to present their work at the ninth annual Drake University Conference on Undergraduate Research in the Sciences. Likewise, there will be six oral presentations given by students and professors alike who will present their research from this year.
While the deadline to enter DUCURS this year has passed, all Drake students are welcome to attend the poster presentations and oral presentations to support their fellow science and math peers. Roughly 115 students have submitted posters for a total of 49 experiments from a variety of disciplines. Judges of the presentations include Drake alumni, current Drake professors, and community members.
Moayad Baadhaim, a junior biology major with a neuroscience minor, presented last year at DUCURS and felt it was a great experience for him.
“I felt that it was a good experience that has helped me personally, and it was definitely beneficial,” Baadhaim said.
Although he is not able to present this year, Baadhaim appreciated having the opportunity to present last year.
During lunch, Dr. Colin Weeks, assistant professor of the department of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Northern Iowa, will present his research on chemistry. Weeks’ research focuses on synthesizing and investigating the properties of a new class of materials called coordination polymers.
What makes this ninth year different from past DUCURS is the presence of graduate schools. During the first presentation time slot, which is from 9:15-10:30 a.m., representatives from Iowa State, Creighton and A.T. Still University will hold a fair for both presenters and spectators to attend. Likewise, the representatives have the opportunity to watch some of the presentations if time allows, which can give these presenters exposure to graduate schools.
All participants and attendees are eligible to win door prizes at the end of the event during the awards ceremony. Awards are given to the top presentations in each poster presentation and among the oral presentations.
