For the first time, the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts will host a combined undergraduate and graduate research conference, an expansion of the annual Graduate Student Research Conference. The Ivan Allen College Research Conference will be held on Friday, Feb. 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Price Gilbert Memorial Library Scholars Event Theater.

“We’re excited to expand the conference to include the entire Ivan Allen College student community,” said Andrew McGraw, academic program manager in the dean’s office. “Undergraduate and graduate students in the College will have an opportunity to form new connections and get feedback from students, faculty, and staff working in similar areas.”

“I know it’s easy to keep your work close to your chest until it’s perfect, but I highly encourage any student interested in participating in the research conference to participate in this event,” said Kallysta T. Jones, who is pursuing a Master of Science in International Affairs, Science, and Technology. “You never know what amazing experiences will come of it.”

Jones would know — she won an award for her paper, “To the Moon and Back: Terrestrial Teachings for the Future of Lunar Governance,” at last year’s conference.

“Participating in IAC’s research conference last year was such a wonderful experience,” Jones added. “Not only did I present my research publicly for the first time, but I also networked with amazing students and passionate researchers. I had the opportunity to receive positive feedback; to be asked questions I hadn’t yet thought of myself; and to learn more about the research being pursued across campus.”

“It was inspiring to witness the diverse research pursuits of individuals within the Ivan Allen College community and to explore potential avenues for collaboration,” said Zhuoqi Helen Dong, a Ph.D. student in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, who won an award for her paper on “Military-Civil Fusion Policies in China: Challenges and Opportunities in Space” at the 2023 conference.

McGraw said all Ivan Allen College students are welcome to present their research “in any form, whether it’s complete or incomplete, from independent study, VIPs, coursework projects, capstone presentations, and everything in between.”

Student research submissions are due by Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 11:59 p.m. via the Student Submission Form.

"The expanded research conference will give our undergraduate students a new opportunity to share their research and make connections with students, faculty, and staff across the Ivan Allen College community,” said Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Shatakshee Dhongde, who is also an associate professor in the School of Economics.

“It offers a supportive environment in which they can receive feedback, explore new avenues of inquiry, hone their presentation skills, and prepare for campuswide as well as national research conferences," added Dhongde.

The Graduate Student Research Conference has been hosted by the Graduate Student Advisory Board and the Ivan Allen College Office of the Dean for over a decade. For the first time this year, the Undergraduate Student Advisory Board will also be hosting the conference.

The conference will feature an undergraduate research poster session, networking reception and lunch, and graduate paper presentations. There will also be awards for the best graduate paper presentations.

For more event details, information, and schedule, visit the Ivan Allen College Research Conference event listing.