Some of the University of Queensland’s most gifted young, science researchers will unveil a range of research findings on topics of stem cells to optical signatures on Saturday.
For the last one to two years, 45 exceptionally bright students in UQ’s Advanced Study Program in Science, have been working on research projects on top of their normal degree.
Their results will be presented at the second annual Undergraduate Research Conference, which runs from 8.30am until 4.30pm in the Queensland Bioscience Precinct (building 80) auditorium at UQ’s St Lucia campus.
Dr Elizabeth McGraw, the conference co-organiser from UQ Life Sciences, said the students joined a university research group of their choice during their second year of study at UQ.
“They first make contact with the laboratory heads and are then paired with a post-doctoral researcher or PhD student,” Dr McGraw said.
“Over the course of a year the students carry out intensive and independent research projects. The process is repeated in third year often in a new laboratory of the student’s choosing.”
Student presentations run from 9.30am until 3.30pm before an awards ceremony.
Students will explain the significance of their results from a range of projects including computer modelling of plants, biochemistry of toxins, diving physiology of turtles, optical signatures from silica beads to conservation of biodiversity hotspots.
Dr McGraw said the conference was an opportunity for the students, mostly from biological and physical sciences, to communicate their results to the public and research community.
“Students are heavily invested in their research and spend at least 120 hours per year on the projects. The program allows students to experience the excitement of scientific discovery.
“The type of project varies from benchwork, to fieldwork, to computer simulations.”
The Conference is organised by the Faculties of Biological and Chemical Sciences and Engineering Physical Sciences and Architecture and Bright Minds, the $2.2 million UQ centre formed to boost the profile of science careers and enrich science teaching.
For more information contact Dr McGraw (phone: 0438 720 681, 07 3365 7404, email: e.mcgraw@uq.edu.au) or Miguel Holland at UQ Communications (phone: 3365 2619, email: m.holland@uq.edu.au)
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