Have you ever wondered why static photographs don't do you justice?

A psychology student tackling that topic and more than 200 other undergraduates are practicing their public-speaking skills and polishing visual designs to present their findings on April 26 at a campus conference on undergraduate research.

All are welcome to explore with the students topics as varied as the Mexican roots of contemporary Chicana feminism and the translation of the evangelical vote to the progressive Christian movement. Or induced labor's effects on autism and the way Royal Court porcelain has influenced fashion.

Now in its 19th year, the Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities Conference provides undergraduates with the unique opportunity to present research in a professional atmosphere. Students in all areas of study — from linguistics to music to biochemical engineering — will participate.

Benefit of major research university

"One of the greatest benefits of attending a major research university is to participate in research and present your work at a conference," says Tammy Hoyer of Advising Services, who has chaired the conference since its beginning. "UC Davis offers a wide variety of research experiences which may culminate in the capstone experience of presenting at this conference."

From 19 students participating the first year, the conference has grown to an all-day affair with 210 students presenting this year.

Melody Jue, a fourth-year student from Castro Valley, has presented a research paper at the conference every year since arriving on campus. She plans to graduate this June with a major in English and minors in Chinese and the history and philosophy of science.

"It's been a great experience," Jue said. "I liked participating in the conference so much the first time, I kept coming back."

Last year, she explored theater as a metaphor for the mind and had her paper published in the campus journal Explorations. Jue further developed the theme into this year's project, "In the Cybernetic Theater of the Mind: The Relation of Theater and Computer Metaphors of Consciousness."

Hoyer said Jue is just one of the many students who go on to publish their findings or present their research at other conferences across the country. The experience gives students a taste of the rigors of research in graduate school and valuable practice speaking in front of groups.

Mentors and workshops

Participants must work under the supervision of a professor but can follow different paths to research, including independent research courses, group study, honors theses or even a paid internship in a lab. They receive one to five units for their project.

Conference coordinator Maddy Rehrman conducts mandatory workshops for the participating students in which they learn conference etiquette, get advice on publishing their paper and receive help with logistics.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for students to stretch themselves, and it looks great on their resumes," Rehrman said.

This year, 125 students will present in a lecture format, and 85 will prepare visual presentations of their research on posters.

The conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Freeborn and Wellman halls. Freelance writer Trina Wood wrote this article for the April 2008 issue of Aggie Family Pack (aggiefamilypack.ucdavis.edu).