The Graduate Student Council is hosting its seventh annual research symposium Thursday at the Inn at Ole Miss. Photo by Robert Jordan/Ole Miss Communications
OXFORD, Miss. – The Graduate Student Council at the University of Mississippi is hosting its seventh annual research symposium from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday (March 2) at the Inn at Ole Miss.
The symposium acts as a mini-conference, allowing graduate students to discuss their research through podium and poster presentations in the categories of social sciences, education, business, accounting, physical and life sciences, arts, humanities, journalism, mathematics, computer science and engineering.
“Events like this are very important for the professional development of graduate students,” said Christy Wyandt, interim dean of the Graduate School. “It gives them an opportunity to practice presenting, to network with faculty and students outside their departments, and to receive constructive advice about their research from peers and faculty.”
The 59 students participating in podium and poster presentations will be competing for $3,000 in academic conference travel awards, co-sponsored by the GSC and the Graduate School, given to the first- and second-place winners in each category. Faculty members and postdoctoral researchers will judge presentations based on content, organization and delivery.
“By presenting, the student also gets the experience of having to explain their research, methodology and results,” said Alexandros Vasios Sivvopoulos, GSC president. “We often have a very clear idea of what a project looks like in our own mind, but explaining it to someone that does not know as much is a whole different story.”
Winners will be announced early next week.
“In February 2016, our university was included in the elite group of R1: Doctoral Universities, and I believe research carried out by our graduate students is an important component and driver of this success,” said Yelda Serinagaoglu, director of academic and professional development for the GSC.
“Events such as ours give students an opportunity to share their research with the university community, sharpen their presentation skills, get feedback from their peers and the faculty, and network. It’s also a day away from the laboratories or classrooms to socialize with each other.”