Undergraduates at UC Davis are preparing once again to showcase the hard work they have put into their research.

The occasion is the Undergraduate Research Scholarship and Creative Activities Conference, now in its 20th year. This year’s event is set for April 25.

Presentations will take place most of the day, with oral presentations from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Wellman Hall, followed by poster presentations from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in Freeborn Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.

The conference is organized by the Undergraduate Research Center and sponsored by the provost’s office and Student Affairs.

Organizers said 275 presenters are on the program, with projects ranging from the humanities to science and everything in between. Titles include: “Uncorking American Wine Culture: A Qualitative Analysis of Wine Tasting Methods,” by American Studies major Brandon Jazmin, and “Viability of Homer1 Knockout Mice as an Animal Model for Schizophrenia,” by microbiology major Megan Cleary.

The students’ work is carried out under the supervision of faculty members or other professionals — in much the same way graduate students carry out their research.

Since UC Davis is a premier research university, the campus believes it is important to support undergraduate students’ involvement in specialized research. With the conference, students are given the opportunity to present their research in a scholarly manner in an academic setting, said co-chair Gail Martinez, acting director of the Undergraduate Research Center.

“The Undergraduate Research Conference is definitely a unique experience, and a perfect way for students to cap off their undergraduate experience,” Martinez said.

“The event provides the opportunity for students to bring together the learning that they have acquired and punctuate their development in critical thinking, as well as their analytical and oral communication skills.”

The conference also provides the kind of experience that serves students well whether they continue on to graduate school or enter directly into professional careers, Martinez said.

Caitlin Cobb is a Dateline intern.