It has a new name, an expanded program and new cash prizes ranging up to $5,000. It is the Interdisciplinary Graduate and Professional Student Symposium, and the Office of Graduate Studies is now taking applications from students who wish to participate.

Terri Harris, coordinator, and Heather Throckmorton, publicity and media chair, said the symposium has been “completely re-envisioned … to better showcase the impressive research of the UC Davis graduate student body and incorporate a wider spectrum of both graduate and professional students.”

Therefore, out with the old Interdisciplinary Graduate Symposium and in with the wider reaching and collaborative Interdisciplinary Graduate and Professional Student Symposium.

“This will be an excellent way for graduate and professional students to interact, showcase their work to a broader audience, and gain exposure to the full spectrum of programs and activities that UC Davis has to offer,” Harris and Throckmorton said by e-mail.

Harris is a first-year graduate student, working toward a Master of Science degree in community development, while Throckmorton is a fifth-year doctoral student in the Soils and Biogeochemistry Graduate Group in the department of Land, Air and Water Resources.

Also this year, instead of just one day as in previous years, the symposium will run for three days: Thursday through Saturday, April 21-23.

“This will allow us to incorporate artistic performances, interdisciplinary panels and workshops, in addition to the oral presentations and poster sessions that were the main focus in previous years.”

Harris and Throckmorton gave this example: A panel on bicycles might include a mechanical engineer, an anthropologist and a transportation planner.

“We anticipate that this expanded flexibility will appeal to the diverse student body on campus and provide an opportunity for students to have a full and enriching experience.”

And what about those prizes? The chancellor’s office will give a $5,000 prize for the best 10-minute oral presentation — in recognition of the importance of showcasing graduate and professional student work and helping students learn from and network with each other.

Graduate Studies has committed three $1,000 prizes in recognition of graduate and professional student excellence in poster presentation, performance and panel organization.

This year’s symposium also will include a resource component, to promote graduate and professional student services.

“For example, we are welcoming representatives from departments and student groups and resource centers on campus,” Harris and Throckmorton said. “This will provide an opportunity for graduate and professional students to discover the many ways they can get support from the university.”

Details and application procedures are available online. The deadline is Feb. 9.

The symposium is scheduled to open at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 21, with registration, reception, welcome and poster session at the Conference Center. The symposium then moves to the Activities and Recreation Center, with registration opening at 8:30 a.m. Friday, April 22, and 9 a.m. Saturday, April 23.