Annual Student Research Conference

This conference will include student presentations of their work on a variety of subjects and in a variety of formats. These presentations (as well as other opportunities for collaboration and learning) will take place in real time on Friday, April 19th (via Zoom and in-person).

Everyone is welcome to attend this conference. Students can invite friends and family, and professors are encouraged to mentor students and to attend this conference in support of our students. Online registration is required, but there is no cost to attend the conference.

What is an academic conference?

Academic Conferences vary depending upon the discipline, the field, the location, the governing body, the particular professional organization, the topic, the focus, the purpose, etc.

Professionals in academia use conferences to present their own work for discussion and to attend in order to make connections with colleagues and to stay current on the work being done in their field. Conferences may involve a strict peer-review process or may be more open; they may also include opportunities for professional development.

Typically, information about the location, purpose, and topic of a conference and a call for proposals will be distributed, and academics prepare and submit a proposal by the deadline. Once informed of acceptance, the academic then prepares their presentation and presents it at their assigned time and location.

When presenting at a conference, an academic submits a proposal for a paper or another kind of format. This proposal will often include an abstract that provides a brief overview of what the presentation is about. It might include references, theories, methods, major questions, or other information that helps to show the project’s value to the field. A paper that is being presented would be similar in scope to an academic journal article and in many disciplines is treated as such.

For this UMA Student Research Conference, students will have the opportunity to participate through presentation and/or attendance all in online formats. If you present your work, you will be participating in the activity and tradition of the academic conference so that you can gain experience and confidence. You are a scholar. What do you have to share with your community of scholars?

Presentation Formats

Depending upon the conference and discipline, there might be any number of formats for presentations. In all cases, “research” is a generic word for scholarly work that may be informative, critical, or creative. And if your work is in progress, there’s room for you here too! You can find a complete list of typical presentation formats on our conference website.

Conference Proposals are Due by April 1.

When submitting your proposal you will be asked for a title, a format, and an abstract/description. The title and description you provide are what will appear in the Conference Program. Students are encouraged to seek guidance from the library and/or Writing Center staff to complete their proposals. You will also be asked about your availability on the day of the conference when student presentations will take place.

Be aware that submitting to a conference is committing to attend the conference in some form. If you submit, you are expected to attend and be prepared. The other panelists in your session or roundtable are depending on you to be there. You should clear your calendar before submitting a proposal, and you should only submit if you are sure that you can be there and are willing to commit to being there.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Rob Kellerman at robert.kellerman@maine.edu or Dr. Lorien Lake-Corral at lorien.lakecorral@maine.edu, and you can also ask your professors for help!