Research Week 2021

Research at Liberty

If you’ve ever wandered through DeMoss Hall, chances are you’ve probably noticed the wall across from the CASAS Lobby that is covered in graphics and information about research. You’ve glanced at the displays showcasing undergraduate students’ research projects, admiring the ingenuity that each project portrays. Perhaps you’ve been intrigued or amazed by a certain project and have wanted to see more similar projects. Maybe you’ve studied the research wall and felt curious about delving into research yourself, but felt intimidated by the time or effort.

Attend Research Week

If you’ve done any of the above, then it sounds like you need to attend Research Week 2021! Research Week is happening April 12th through the 16th in the Jerry Falwell Library. Every day of the week, students, like yourself, will be sharing exciting research projects and competing to win cash prizes.

Research Week is your opportunity to explore and discover new possibilities. For example, you can see something, like math, in a whole new way. This is your chance to gain inspiration as you listen to your peers share their passions and discuss how they pursued their ideas and turned them into action. You are invited to ask questions during the Q and A portion that follows each session.

Research Week Projects

What kinds of projects can you expect to see at Research Week? The short answer is all kinds! Every year, there is a wide variety of projects from ceramics to church history to crayfish and more. Students may choose several different ways to present their projects.

Poster presentations will be set up in the Jerry Falwell Library where presenters will be stationed all afternoon. People are welcome to cruise through and listen to each presenter share about their project. A new round of posters will be present in the library each day, with the exception of Friday.
Oral presentations will take place in designated rooms throughout the Jerry Falwell Library. Be sure to check on the Research Week website for the schedule so you can identify which presentations you would be interested in attending! Oral presentations are 15 minutes with a 5 minute Q and A time.
Performing Arts presentations will take place on the Thursday of Research Week in the School of Music Concert Hall. Here, you can watch students showcase what research looks like in the form of theater, film, and even spoken word.
The Juried Arts projects will be displayed on screens in the library and throughout DeMoss Hall. You will be able to cast your vote for the People’s Choice winner of this category.
The Three Minute Thesis competition will take place on Friday. This competition is just what it sounds like; students get three minutes to summarize their thesis and research topic. It’s quite exciting to watch! This category also has a People’s Choice award, so swing by for a chance to participate!

COVID Precautions

So far, Research Week is cleared to proceed in person. The CRS staff is aware that there may be hesitancy to attend a larger event, even with precautions in place, so there will be options to attend and participate virtually. Keep checking in with our website to stay informed and alert to these virtual opportunities. With the ever shifting nature of this pandemic, it is possible that presentations will be moved to an entirely virtual platform. If this happens, we will make sure there are still plenty of opportunities to participate virtually.

Please take advantage of this exciting event to explore and discover new ideas and passions!