Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

National Conferences on Undergraduate Research (NCUR)

The National Conferences on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), established in 1987, is dedicated to promoting undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative activity in all fields of study by sponsoring an annual conference for students.  Unlike meetings of academic professional organizations, this gathering of young scholars welcomes presenters from all institutions of higher learning and from all corners of the academic curriculum.  Through this annual conference, NCUR creates a unique environment for the celebration and promotion of undergraduate student achievement, provides models of exemplary research and scholarship, and helps to improve the state of undergraduate education.  In addition to providing a forum for student presentations and performances through its annual conference, NCUR also:

• Organizes workshops for faculty and administrators who support undergraduate research and creative activity on campuses across the country;
• Collaborates with other national organizations in support of undergraduate research and the improvement of undergraduate education;
• Administers the NCUR/Lancy initiative, which awards grants to support summer interdisciplinary undergraduate research programs;
• Publishes a proceedings of the conference;
• Sponsors, with the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) and annual Institute for Undergraduate Research Program Directors

University of Minnesota UROP students often present the results of their work at this conference.  It is typically held in April.  Abstracts and requests for financial assistance are made during the preceding fall.  Financial assistance generally covers all travel and conference expenses.  Full details about presenting at this conference can be obtained from your UROP coordinator.

In 2008 NCUR will be held at Salisbury University in Salisbury, Maryland from April 9th through the 12th, 2008.  Over fifteen UMD students and faculty will be attending.  This continues a long history of UROP presentations at this conference by UMD students.  Further details about the 2008 conference are found at:  http://www.salisbury.edu/ncur22/

Previous conferences have been held at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, the California Institute of Technology, the University of Utah, the University of Montana at Missoula, the Virginia Military Institute, and the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.

The 2009 meeting of NCUR will be in April 2009 at the University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse.  Information regarding abstract submission and application for travel assistance will be available fall 2008 from UROP coordinators.