Friday’s International Research Symposium will feature more students and double the prizes than ever before.
The event, organized through the International Student Union, has grown from hosting 17 presenters to 23 this year. Event organizers expect about 175 attendees throughout the day.
Students will present to peers, faculty and administrators starting at noon Friday in the Walter Hall Rotunda; judges will begin assessing at 1 p.m. with final decisions to be made at 3 p.m.
In addition to presenting, students will receive feedback and will be able to discuss academic topics relevant to their research, said Ajara Chekirova, a graduate student studying international development and the public relations officer for the International Student Union.
“It’s a great networking opportunity throughout the university,” she said.
The competition is split into five categories: humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, formal sciences, professions and applied sciences.
The winner of each category will be rewarded with a Kindle or Kindle Fire. One presenter awarded the “people’s choice award” from an audience vote will also receive a Kindle Fire.
The five judges were all chosen from different disciplines to ensure at least one of the judges is knowledgeable in the presented topic, said Mohamad Al-Issa, a master’s student studying organizational communication and president of the International Student Union.
“It’s a great event because presenting research is something that eventually most, if not all, students will be exposed to,” he said.
Krista McCallum Beatty, the faculty adviser for the International Student Union, said she has seen the symposium evolve since it was established in 2007. She added that she is excited for another year of judged competition with increased participation.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for our students to showcase the research being done by our international students or other student international research,” she said.
While the symposium is being funded through the Student Activities Commission, the International Student Union reached out to various colleges for monetary donations for the Kindles.
To honor the theme, international snacks such as samosa, baklava and spring rolls will be available.
Al-Issa said the major goals of the symposium are to encourage international students to participate in the events, encourage domestic students to look into international research and expose all students to a research environment.
“It’s more of a practice of real life for students,” Al-Issa said. “It’s a good stepping stone.”
af234909@ohiou.edu
