Conference fosters next generation of innovators

Future researchers and innovators from The University of Queensland will converge at the St Lucia campus for the annual Undergraduate Research Conference in September.

UQ Advantage Office Director Dr Dino Willox said the conference reflected the University's commitment to fostering the next generation of innovators and was an important UQ Research Week feature.

“The annual conference provides unique opportunities for students to enhance their communication and presentation skills and share their research with the wider UQ community," Dr Willox said.

“We are keen to profile undergraduate research activities from a range of disciplines at the 2014 conference and UQ students can now apply to present.”

Students present posters and oral presentation on their research, and are judged by an expert panel that  awards cash prizes to the strongest performers.

Bachelor of Laws and International Relations student William Lee’s presentation to the 2013 event focused on the future energy relations challenges facing the European Union and Russia.

 “I believed that my research could make a positive difference to the wider debate, and the UQ Undergraduate Research Conference is a fabulous opportunity for students to showcase that belief to a broader audience,” he said.

Mr Lee, who graduates next year, plans to use his degree and research experiences to forge a career in energy policy.

“If you find a topic that you are passionate about, run with it,” he said.

“Research is a fantastic way to contribute to knowledge in your area of interest and challenge yourself to make a positive difference.”

Undergraduate science student Danielle Brown presented her research on the Perceptual load and human self-representation and said the conference enabled her to communicate her research in a unique way.

“After participating in the UQ Winter Research Program in 2013, presenting at the conference was a valuable opportunity for me to communicate my research and learn about other research discoveries,” she said.

“It was an amazing learning experience and I’m looking forward to attending the 2014 conference in September to hear about the latest discoveries at UQ.”

The conference will take place on September 16 and 17, 2014. Applications for presentations are open until August 1, 2014.

For more information about the conference or to submit an abstract, visit: http://www.uq.edu.au/uqadvantage/urc

Media: Belinda Brear, UQ Advantage Office, 07 3365 2929, b.brear@uq.edu.au or Georgia Mitchell, UQ Advantage Office, 07 3346 0626, georgia.mitchel@uq.edu.au