The Office of Undergraduate Research and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, are pleased to sponsor the 9th annual Research Week April 15–18. This event is a week-long celebration of undergraduate research and the creative activities that take place across campus. From fascinating student presentations at EURēCA to the campus-wide 3 Minutes to Win It Research Video Challenge, Research Week is full of fun and exciting ways to celebrate the amazing work of UT students.
*2020 events will be posted as scheduled.
2019 Events:
Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement (EURēCA)
April 15-18, 2019 at Hodges Library 1st and 2nd floors
The University of Tennessee gives undergraduates the chance to pursue exciting opportunities in original research and creative projects beyond the classroom. The fruits of those labors are put on display each spring at the Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement (EURēCA). Sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Research and the Research & Engagement, this multi-day exhibition and performance event welcomes students of any major. See the full schedule of events for the 23rd Annual EURēCA.
3 Minutes to Win It Research Challenge
The 3 Minutes to Win It Research Challenge is a competitive showcase of UT’s undergraduate researchers that takes place annually around Research Week. Centered around two stages of judging, students first create and submit a 2-3 minute video showcasing their research (and themselves!) via their personal YouTube accounts. Submissions are judged by a committee who then choose 3 finalists to advance to the in-person round where students will give a 5-minute presentation about their research to a live audience. Winners receive cash prizes! Learn more about how to enter here.
2018 events:
Friday, April 13
Undergraduate Research Symposium, Hodges Library, 9 am – 4 pm
The 9th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium will be held on April 13th, 2018, at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The Symposium offers students from every discipline the opportunity to give a brief oral research presentation to their peers. The Symposium is organized by and for undergraduates from every discipline and, as such, offers a wide scope of exposure to research in a setting that is less intimidating than professional conferences.
From the Ashes: The World of Fire Fungi, Thompson-Boling Arena Cafe Room A, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
After wildfires, a unique guild of pyrophyllus fungi appears on burned ground that are never observed on unburned soils. Where do they come from? What are they related to? What is their ecological role? Are there biogeographical patterns in their distribution? In the face of disaster, the fires in Gatlinburg have also provided Karen Hughes, professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, an opportunity to explore the biology of these unique organisms and to answer questions about their roles in forest recovery.
EEB Seminar: Thomas Whitham, Northern Arizona University, SERF Room 307, 3:30 pm – 4:45 pm
The weekly EEB seminar starts at 3:30 p.m. in Room 307 of the Science & Engineering Bldg, unless otherwise noted. For title and abstract information, please visit the EEB website. Speaker: Thomas Whitham, Northern Arizona University
UT Opera Theatre presents Allen Shearer’s Middlemarch in Spring, Bijou Theatre, 8 pm
In this stirring yet often lighthearted opera, George Eliot’s towering literary work comes to life with powerful imagery and compelling music. One unforgettable spring in the town of Middlemarch, passionate love and political upheaval are brewing. Dorothea Brooke, an idealistic woman who hopes to improve the world, naively marries the scholar Casaubon for his “great mind” and is devastated when he turns out to be cold, shallow and not very bright. But in spring, anything can happen. Could Dorothea have a second chance at happiness with the dashing, eminently unsuitable Will Ladislaw? The odds are stacked against her.
Sunday, April 15
UT Middle East Ensemble, Natalie Haslam Music Center, Sandra G. Powell Recital Hall, 7:30 pm
An evening of vibrant music from the diverse communities of the Middle East.
Monday, April 16
Intro Sessions on Nationally Competitive Scholarships/Fellowships, Hodges Library, Room 213, 2:30 pm & 3:30 pm
Join ONSF to learn more about nationally competitive awards, the range of opportunities available, and the processes to apply!
Confucius’s Mary Magdalen Moment – UT Humanities Center Distinguished Lecture, Hodges Library, 3:30 – 5:00 pm
Against the ethos of his era that upheld sexual segregation and discourages women’s participation in public affairs, Confucius recognized and even praised two elite women. In fact, like Jesus’s relationship with Mary Magdalen, Confucius’s interactions with the notorious Nan Zi-described as a deceitful and lustful woman-has generated intense controversy over the millennia. Kinney will discuss Confucius’s interaction with Nan Zi and his views on women in general.
Dr. Anne Behnke Kinney is professor of Chinese in the Department of East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at the University of Virginia.
This event is free and open to the public.
Classics Lecture, College of Law Room 132, 4:45 pm – 6:00 pm
Prof. Alden Smith, Baylor University, will talk about, “Through an Epicurean Lens: socii et amici in Aeneid 1.”
Haines-Morris Distinguished Lecturer in Classics.
Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement (EUReCA) Night One, Hodges Library, 4:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Visit with students from the Colleges of Architecture & Design, Arts & Sciences (selected), Business, Communication and Information, Education, Health, and Human Sciences, Nursing, and Social Work while they present their faculty mentored research projects.
<h2Tuesday, April 17
Rube Goldberg Challenge Competition, McClung Museum, 12 pm
Enter as an individual or form a team for the Research Week Rube Goldberg Challenge! The goal is to design and build a Rube Goldberg device made out of readily available items that will use a complicated series of actions to trigger a final action that demonstrates your school spirit. Examples could be raising a banner, kicking a field goal, playing Rocky Top, etc. Cash prizes will be awarded in several categories.
Truman and Udall Information Sessions, Hodges Library, Room 253, 2:30 pm
Committed to a career of public service? Interested in funding for undergraduate and graduate study? Come learn about the Truman and Udall Scholarships and how to apply!
UK/Ireland Scholarships Information Session, Hodges Library, Room 253, 3:30 pm
We’ll discuss the Rhodes, Marshall, Mitchell, and Gates Cambridge Scholarships—some of the world’s most competitive awards for post-graduate study and which require UT’s endorsement to apply. Join ONSF and a former Rhodes Scholar to learn more about each program.
Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement (EUReCA) Night Two, Hodges Library, 4:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Visit with students from the College of Arts & Sciences English 298 Classes as they present their undergraduate research projects.
Wednesday, April 18
Fulbright Kick-Off Event, Hodges Library, Room 213, 3:00 pm
DON’T MISS THIS ONE! UT students have enjoyed tremendous recent success in applying for the Fulbright, the largest US exchange program providing opportunities for students to undertake fully funded, year-long, post-graduate research, arts projects, graduate study, or teaching in one of 140+ countries. Whether you are a first- or second-year student, or a junior, graduating senior, or graduate student, we encourage you to come hear from ONSF and successful UT applicants about the Fulbright—including the opportunities it provides for cultural exchange and scholarship, how to get started with the process (including the campus pre-application), and how to develop a competitive application! We’ll leave plenty of time for Q&A and mingling with successful applicants and ONSF staff. https://onsf.utk.edu/fulbright-u-s-student-program/
Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement (EUReCA) Night Three, Hodges Library, 4:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Visit with students from the Colleges of Arts & Sciences (selected), Engineering, and Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.
Thursday, April 19
Goldwater Scholarship Info Session, Baker Center, Room 118 (Seminar Room), 1:45 pm
Come learn about this scholarship for outstanding 2nd- and 3rd-year undergraduate STEM researchers and the process to apply.
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program, Baker Center, Room 118 (Seminar Room), 2:30 pm
This session will focus on the process of applying for the NSF GRFP, which funds graduate degrees in NSF-supported STEM fields.
Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement (EUReCA) Awards Night, AMB, 6:00 pm
See the winners of EUReCA at Awards Night.
Friday, April 20
BFA Capstone Exhibition, Ewing Gallery, 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
The Capstone course is a requirement for all BFA Studio Art majors.Students take capstone in the final semester of their BFA degree. During Capstone, students engage in a self-initiated research project to demonstrate that a graduating senior has learned and can practice the skills and concepts of a chosen concentration (2D, 3D, 4D). The Capstone also demonstrates the student’s ability to intellectualize and articulate issues and ideas about contemporary art. Successful completion of the Capstone course is a requirement of graduation.
Saturday, April 21
Undergraduate Math Conference, Min H. Kao Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 8:00 pm
Speaker – Jessica Matthews North Carolina Institute Climate Studies