In current crises of economic viability, urban decline, environmental degradation, and cultural meaning, we face deep and broad-based concerns, both for personal prospects and larger social contracts. We can be swept along by those changes, or we can use them as opportunities for positive transformation. We know that research must inform our responses to these new conditions. And we know that undergraduate research offers experiences and skills that our students can draw on for successful future study, meaningful work lives, and social engagement. This conference will ask us to consider new models of undergraduate research that create possibilities where others might see peril.

The subthemes for the 2012 CUR Conference are as follows:

• Research Transcending Historic Disciplinary Boundaries
• Sustaining Undergraduate Research in an Era of Fiscal Uncertainty
• Online Technology in Undergraduate Research: Possibilities, Threats and Challenges
• The Challenges and Opportunities of Undergraduate Research in a Broad Global Context
• Other non-theme proposals are also welcome

To submit a proposal, please visit the submission page.

All submissions will be closely and competitively reviewed.

Due to a server malfunction, we are pleased to announce that the Submission Deadline for Interactive Sessions and Catalyst Discussions has been extended to December 1, 2011.
Submission Deadline for Poster Presentations is February 1, 2012.

Notifications of acceptance will be made by February 15, 2012 for interactive sessions and catalyst discussions and by March 15, 2012 for posters.

Research Transcending Historic Disciplinary Boundaries

The most significant problems we face are not typically problems that can be held within a single disciplinary frame. The future of the post-industrial city will not be fully addressed within urban planning or sociology or geo-remediation; the pace and outcomes of climate change will not be fully addressed within chemistry or public health or oceanography. Sessions that pursue this theme will focus upon undergraduate research that is framed by problems rather than by historic divisions of knowledge, and will offer models of research that are not only cross-disciplinary, but perhaps post-disciplinary.

Sustaining Undergraduate Research in an Era of Fiscal Uncertainty

Undergraduate research has been growing as an innovative pedagogical practice and an increasingly sought-after student experience for the past couple of decades on campuses of all types and sizes. The international fiscal crisis of recent years, however, has presented challenges for many campuses to continue to support and develop initiatives begun during better financial times. Sessions under this theme will address issues related to sustaining and growing undergraduate research with reduced institutional funding, including creative strategies to increase external support, new ways of structuring undergraduate research experiences, using technology, or engaging collaborations that share/reduce costs in effective ways.

Online Technology in Undergraduate Research: Possibilities, Threats and Challenges

Online learning and technological advances are changing undergraduate research. As more students are completing their education online, we need to provide avenues for undergraduate research for this population. In addition, technology enables our students to collaborate with researchers and peers around the world, provides access to research databases and digitally archived information, and allows students to disseminate research results more broadly. Sessions under this theme will address strategies for engaging online students in undergraduate research opportunities, using technology to enhance undergraduate research, increasing dissemination of research results online, and promoting partnerships.

The Challenges and Opportunities of Undergraduate Research in a Broad Global Context

The phrase “undergraduate research” grew out of higher education in the United States, but a growing number of institutions around the world have adopted the term and adapted the process for their own settings. With the growth in undergraduate research worldwide there are many opportunities for students and researchers to interact across geographical and political boundaries. There are also many opportunities to have undergraduates address multifaceted global challenges in their research, often through multidisciplinary, diverse teams. Undergraduate research experiences that include purposeful interactions or team-based collaborations with individuals from diverse backgrounds benefit students as they prepare to work, live and lead in an increasingly global society. Sessions under this theme will address strategies for international undergraduate research experiences, partnerships promoting undergraduate research in different countries, multi-cultural undergraduate research programs, building multi-disciplinary teams to address global problems, and community-based research projects involving diverse cultures.

An interactive session is structured to involve interactions with the audience. In addition to providing a period of time for questions and answers, presenters should involve the audience through such mechanisms as brainstorming exercises, group discussion, and/or mini-surveys or polls. These interactions encourage the exchange of ideas and the opportunity to gain multiple perspectives and insights on a common topic or theme. The time allotted for interactive sessions is 75 minutes, and presenters are asked to consider offering their session twice during the conference. Handouts and visual aids are recommended. The abstract word limit is 150 words. You must also provide a 60 word summary, and a 150 word description of how you plan to enagage participants in the session.

The poster session is intended to afford presenters a relaxed atmosphere in which attendees can share their ideas with other faculty and administrators across a wide variety of disciplines and institutions. Posters should relate either programmatic work done to develop or strengthen undergraduate research, or findings from research projects that involved undergraduates as significant contributors. Two "formal" poster sessions will be scheduled for specific blocks of time on two days during which presenters are expected to be available at the poster to discuss their work with other conference attendees. Handouts are encouraged. The abstract word limit is 150 words.

The catalyst breakout session follows a keynote panel on the theme "Informed Uncertainty -- Major Questions for Undergraduate Research." We are inviting volunteers to lead 75-minute breakout sessions of 15-20 participants to deliberate on the challenges presented by a panel of four "catalysts." Catalyst discussion leaders will be given broad outlines of the keynote panel to assist in their preparations, and should propose a focus area for their discussion section. Discussion leaders do not need to be an expert in the focus area they propose to lead, but should show a strong interest in that topic.

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