Ever wonder what student research might look like?

Something like the Coachella of student research, the inaugural U of R INSPIRE Student Research Symposium on November 22, 2023 will showcase high-quality grad and undergrad student research in variety of disciplines, including:

• Artificial intelligence
• Biology
• Ecology
• Education
• Engineering
• History
• Gender and Sexuality
• Geochemistry
• Music
• Psychology, and more. 

The Interdisciplinary Series for Professional Intellectual and Research Engagement (INSPIRE) student research initiative is hosting the symposium is the brainchild of graduate psychology students Andy Mclennan and Shaelyn Carr. 

“INSPIRE is a unique opportunity for students to expand their knowledge, skills, and connections, simply by working with others,” said Mclennan, doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology Program. “The goal has always been to bring people together and ‘inspire’ the full potential they have to offer in their professional and academic pursuits.” 

We’ve been blown away by the level of engagement from the students, supervisors, and professional staff — Shaelyn Carr, doctoral student and INSPIRE co-founder

Each INSPIRE forum profiles different students discussing their research on a diverse array of topics, including: bats in the Cypress Hills, treating chronic pain, making music with eye trackers and waste management. Kind of like Coachella, you have to be there to really experience it. 

“The INSPIRE Research Symposium started as a dream and we were not sure how successful it would be, or if students would be interested,” said Carr, doctoral student in the Experimental and Applied Psychology program. “We’ve been blown away by the level of engagement from students, supervisors, and professional staff. We are so thrilled for the first INSPIRE Research Symposium and are excited to see where this goes in the future!” 

INSPIRE Research Symposium Schedule

November 22

The full-day conference will feature U of R graduate and undergraduate students presenting their research in three different forums:

9:15 - 10:15 a.m. – 10-minute paper presentations reporting research results/findings
(La Cité, room 215)

10:30 - 11:30 a.m. – 5-minute data blitz presentations featuring research in development, in progress, or completed
(La Cité, room 215)

11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. – poster presentations of research
(Research and Innovation Centre (RIC) Atrium)

1:00 -  1:30 p.m. –  session on the Faculty of Graduate Studies & Research
1:30 - 2 p.m. – keynote address from Dr. Melanie Dennis Unrau
2:00 - 3 p.m. – 10 minute paper presentations
3:15 - 4:15 p.m. – 5 minute data blitz presentations
4:15 - 4:30 p.m. – closing remarks & awards

“With more than 800 active researchers, including faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students, and post-doctoral fellows, the opportunities for our students to push the boundaries of knowledge and make discoveries that create positive impacts to our society are boundless,” said Dr. Chris Yost, Vice-President (Research) at the University of Regina.

Plan now to attend the very first INSPIRE Student Research Symposium on November 22!

Banner photo credit: U of R Photography