Salt Lake Community College’s annual Undergraduate Projects, Performances, Presentations, and Research Conference (UP3RC) is set to take place on April 2, at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus, offering students a chance to showcase their academic achievements, fostering a culture of intellectual exchange.
The UP3RC is an annual event designed to celebrate and highlight the academic accomplishments of undergraduate students. It provides a supportive environment for students to share their work, hone their presentations skills, receive constructive feedback, and engage in meaningful discussions with their peers and faculty. All SLCC departments and programs, including faculty and staff, are encouraged to support and visit the day of the event.
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| Students with their poster from last year's UPRC event |
“The goal of this event is to make sure every school and student is given the opportunity to participate,” says Dr. Kamal Bewar, interim director of the STEM Learning Center, who is chairing and leading the conference. He said that the event originally started with the School of Science, Mathematics and Engineering, but that Dean Craig Caldwell wants to make sure it goes on beyond his department and that other schools become a part of the conference as well.
"This event encourages students to do undergraduate research that will prepare them for a bigger step when they move to four-year institutions or perhaps to a master's degree. Undergraduate research is the first step for them to initiate their ability,” says Kamal.
Students from various disciplines are encouraged to participate as the conference aims to showcase the diverse talents and accomplishments across the College, not only in scientific research. Past presentations and posters have been on topics such as soil analysis of the Great Salt Lake, the effects of exercise on mental health, and exploring the culture of the trading card game Magic: The Gathering. Students from classes like geosciences and biology to philosophy and anthropology participated and showcased their work from the semester.
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| A student with her research poster on the Great Salt Lake from last year's UPRC |
The conference was first supported and organized by the school of Science, Mathematics and Engineering and has since evolved to include the schools of Humanities and Social Sciences. In the coming years they want to include all departments in the College, including Business and the Arts, Communications and Media, where students can not only show research they’ve done but any performances or art they have produced.
One of the highlights of the event is the keynote address given by guest speaker David Parrott, PhD, professor and researcher from Westminster College. David is also the assistant director of Great Salt Lake Institute and has curiosity for the halophilic bacteria and fungi found in and around Great Salt Lake. He teaches a variety of biology classes including cell biology, plant biology, and microbiology at Westminster. His keynote address and other presentations will be held in the Oak Room and the posters will be displayed in the Student Event Center at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus.
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| A student with her research poster from last year's UPRC event |
This is a tentative event schedule, and is subject to change, for Tuesday, April 2, 2024
8-9 a.m.: Check-in begins, and continental breakfast is served
9-11 a.m.: Morning poster session and oral presentations
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Lunch and Keynote Speaker
1-3 p.m.: Afternoon poster session and oral presentations
3-4 p.m.: Closing remarks and light refreshments
Students in the Humanities or Science, Mathematics and Engineering interested in presenting at the conference should apply here by March 1. If they have any questions about what kinds of projects qualify, they are encouraged to contact their professors or Kamal Bewar at kamal.bewar@slcc.edu with any questions.
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