BGSU to host annual Undergraduate Symposium for Research and Scholarship

The event is coming off a record-breaking 2025 that saw more than 200 students present posters and oral presentations

One of the many career-focused opportunities for Bowling Green State University students will take center stage at this year’s Undergraduate Symposium for Research and Scholarship.

The event, which will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, at the Bowen-Thompson Student Union, will highlight the many ways in which students can augment their studies in their chosen discipline through research, scholarly and creative activities at the University.

Through the Center for Undergraduate Research and Scholarship, undergraduate students have the chance to undertake a project of their choosing with a faculty mentor – an opportunity available to all majors and students at any stage of college. The experience often provides key insight into the next stage of their lives, whether it is an internship, graduate school or a full-time career.

Cordula Mora, Ph.D., director of CURS, said it is never too early or too late to work on a CURS project, through which the Center and faculty mentors are there to guide students every step of the way.

“We have students participating ranging from freshmen to seniors with majors across all colleges being represented,” she said. “No prior idea for a project is required, as the project is developed together with a faculty mentor based on the student’s interests, and the application for CURS funding is submitted together by the student and their mentor.

“The best way to get started is to reach out to a favorite professor in class by asking them to be a CURS mentor or to request help from the director of CURS to find a mentor."

Increasing numbers of BGSU students have presented at the Undergraduate Symposium for Research and Scholarship in recent years. In 2025, the event broke previous records for both student participation and attendance.

For many BGSU students, beginning a CURS project at the University can be a launching point for future success.

Glenn Davis, Ph.D., the vice president of student engagement and success, said the experience of picking a CURS project not only helps students develop intimate knowledge about their degree program, it also proves to be a well-rounded experience that helps students develop confidence.

“A CURS project allows you to work in depth in one area that certainly helps you excel in your degree program, but what you’re also learning are skills that are transferable to many other areas,” Davis said. “It’s about knowledge creation: you identify your specific topic, develop an approach, learn how to present your findings and work closely with a faculty member.

“It’s a great experience for anybody who tries it.”

Saturday’s symposium, which is free and open to the public, will highlight the many directions in which students have explored research, scholarly and creative activities through their projects.

Regardless of a student’s major, a CURS project is a pathway to experiential learning that complements their coursework.

“CURS offers undergraduate students of all majors the opportunity to get hands-on experience in their chosen discipline,” Mora said. “Participating in a CURS project allows students to build skills that go way beyond what they can learn in the classroom.

“Besides building skills and developing their resume, students can also use these projects to network and get letters of recommendation, both of which are very important when looking for their dream job or when applying to their graduate school of choice.”