Feb. 25, 2013 - Thirty-seven students from four faculties will present their research projects at York University’s first multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Fair, Wednesday Feb. 27, from 11am to 1pm, in the Scott Library Collaboratory (second floor).

More than 90 undergraduate students from the Faculties of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, Environmental Sciences, Fine Arts and Glendon submitted applications to participate in the fair that is co-sponsored by York University Libraries and the Office of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation. Next year the fair will include all faculties.

“The underlying intent behind the Undergraduate Research Fair is to demonstrate to undergraduates that they too can participate in research, that research is accessible and is not solely the domain of faculty and graduate students,” explains Catherine Davidson, associate University librarian and a member of the fair steering committee. “The sheer number and high calibre of applications received tells us that undergraduates got that message and that they are eager to take part and showcase their achievements. It wasn’t easy for the Steering Committee to arrive at only 37 short-listed finalists.”

The finalists will present their research in a market-place style poster session from 11am to 12pm. At noon, four monetary prizes will be awarded. Two $500 awards will be presented to the students who prepared the best lower-year project and poster (for a first or second-year course) and best upper-year project and poster (for a third or fourth-year course). An award of $500 will also be granted to the student who designed and animated the best poster presentation at the fair.

The final prize, a cheque for $600, is an inaugural award presented by York University Libraries to the undergraduate fair participant whose project best exemplifies good practices in library research and information literacy. Information literacy encompasses a set of skills needed to find, retrieve, analyze and use information, and has a particular focus on the development of a critical engagement with information and the information-seeking process. In establishing the Information Literacy Award, the University Libraries celebrate undergraduate students’ library research achievements.

University Librarian Cynthia Archer encourages the University community to support these outstanding undergraduate researchers. “The students at York are exceptional. Please drop by the Collaboratory in Scott Library to talk with these budding scholars about their research projects. The Undergraduate Research Fair is a wonderful informal learning opportunity as well as an important venue to recognize the quality of student scholarship at York.”

The fair is open to the York community as well as to family and friends.  Light refreshments will be served. For more information, visit the Undergraduate Research Fair website.