The 20th annual Southern California Conferences for Undergraduate Research (SCCUR) will be hosted by California State University Channel Islands on Nov. 17. The conference gives students who were enrolled in a first-year seminar last year or any student interested in research an opportunity to present a poster or oral research project. The conference celebrates undergraduate research, scholarship and creative activity in all disciplines. The conference is expected to reach its maximum capacity of 1,000 participants this year.
Students from the region will present their scholarly work in a 15-minute seminar presentation directed by faculty moderators, poster sessions or exhibitions and performances. Students interested in presenting their research must submit an abstract by Oct. 1. The abstract must be no longer than 300 words and will be reviewed by faculty from different institutions and will either be accepted, returned for revision or declined. As an undergraduate researcher, the opportunity to have your work peer-reviewed by faculty is invaluable.
Assistant Director of Research, Grants and Events Katy Carr said attending SCCUR is “a great addition to your resume and/or graduate school application.” The cost of attendance is covered for Pepperdine students by various funding sources such as the W.M. Keck Foundation Grant. For those who simply wish to attend, the registration deadline is Nov. 10.
In 2010, Pepperdine hosted the SCCUR conference on the Malibu campus. Approximately 138 of the university’s students participated. Stephen Davis, distinguished professor of biology and the lead meeting organizer of the 2010 conference, urges student to participate whatever their area of study may be. “Scholarship is without bounds,” Davis said.
According to Davis, Pepperdine is consistently in the top three or four schools in regards to participation. He also urges students to stay for the entire day rather than leave after their presentation. “It’s important to learn from others,” Davis said. The conference can also help students gain a clearer perspective on their career aspirations. SCCUR is a good entry-level conference that introduces students to the conventions and necessities of professional academic life.
The first SCCUR conference was held in 1993 at the California Institute of Technology. Each year, the success of the conference continues to grow while SCCUR maintains its “core values and structure.” The format of the one-day conference remains the same; however, the board of directors has expanded from a small planning committee to 21 members.
