Student Research
The Annual James Utter Natural and Social Sciences Student Research Symposium
40+ Years Presenting Student Research
The annual student research symposium was renamed in 2025 to honor the faculty member who championed its founding back in 1982, Associate Professor Emeritus of Environmental Studies and Biology, Jim Utter.
Since then, the annual student symposium provides an opportunity for seniors to present their senior project research to a wide audience of peers, alumni, family, faculty, and members of the community. Students present poster research or powerpoint presentations modeled on professional symposia they would experience in the scientific community.
Two concurrent sessions in anthropology, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, economics, environmental studies, gender studies, Latin American studies, mathematics/computer science, political science, psychology, and sociology take place throughout the morning.
Seniors who participate in the symposium consider it a highlight of their undergraduate experience and many often cite both the senior project research itself and the presentation of research results as singular preparation for graduate school and careers in the sciences.
Held every year in early May.
See more from the May 2025 Research Symposium
“It gives the students a lot of confidence,” says Skrivanek. “And it sets them apart from others who are applying to graduate school, applying for a job, applying to medical school, because they have something they can talk about.”
—Distinguished Service Professor of Chemistry Joe Skrivanek