Franklin students present their research at CURO Symposium

As visitors descended the escalator of the Classic Center and walked through the doors of the Grand Hall, they encountered hundreds of hardworking students eager to present their research. An atmosphere of education and engagement filled the air.

 On April 7 and 8, undergraduate students from UGA came together to present at the annual Center for Undergraduate Research (CURO) Symposium with a record-breaking number of 723 presentations. The morning of April 7 was filled with 10-minute presentations. Later that day from 4-6 p.m., the poster session was held with more than 400 poster presentations the Classic Center was buzzing with activity. Students spent two hours communicating their work to faculty, students, and the public. The posters ranged from cellular biology to musical theory. The CURO Symposium allows students to show off their research which required lots of work and dedication.

Conducting research and presenting it creates wonderful opportunities for students. Ishani Patil, a 4th year double major in History and Computing, presented on curation research she has been conducting that will be displayed in the Special Collections Library in Fall 2025. Her poster titled “Ink and Identity: History and Impact of Zines” showcases the research she has done to connections between zines and marginalized communities.

“My process for making the poster was easy for me because I had done a lot of the research last semester,” she said. “Summarizing my research and making bullet points that were easily digestible for people walking by was the hardest part for me.” Like Patil, many other students have been working on their research for more than one semester and were excited to finally present it to a larger community. 

No matter the year, or area of study, all undergraduate students working with faculty members are encouraged to present at the CURO symposium. The symposium gives students the opportunity to practice their communication skills and show the public what innovative research undergraduates participate in at UGA.   

Image: Laura Kate Holden, center, a fourth-year CURO Honors Scholar studying biochemistry and molecular biology. (Photo by Stephanie Schupska)