The ANU Student Research Conference (SRC) is an opportunity for ANU coursework (undergraduate and postgraduate), Honours and Masters (Advanced) students to present their research in this online conference to be held from the 16th-18th September 2020.

The ANU Student Research Conference is an annual event which provides a platform to celebrate the research achievements of undergraduate and Masters students. In the past, the Conference program has included workshops and keynote speeches delivered by ANU academics, PhD and Honours student panels and opportunities for networking, in addition to student presentations.

We welcome abstracts from students who have completed exceptional research (high distinction, 80+), and conducted this research for an undergraduate or postgraduate course within the past 12 months, a summer scholarship or internship program, or an Honours or Masters (Advanced) thesis.

In particular, we are seeking students who have had to design their own research question, carry out their own investigations to find the answer to an important problem or issue, and effectively communicated their findings. Students who submitted their thesis in October 2019 or more recently, or are about to submit their thesis in October 2020, are also eligible to apply.

The theme of this year's conference is 'New Voices, Big Impact', which aims to highlight and celebrate the importance of undergraduate (including Honours) and Masters-level research. We encourage students who intend to submit an abstract to consider what their research contributes to the relevant academic debate/discussion, what we can learn about our past, present or future from their research and/or how the process of carrying out their research has contributed to their student experience. Students' research does not need to yield ground-breaking or unprecedented results to be considered for the ANU SRC. Rather, we invite students to share their rigorous and well-written coursework with the broader ANU community at the Conference.

Abstract submissions will close on Monday 10th of August 2020.

Presentation Formats

Students can nominate to deliver their presentations in one of the following formats:

• 10-minute presentation with 5 minutes Q&A
• 15-minute Honours or Masters (Advanced) thesis presentation with 5 minutes Q&A
• 5-minute PechaKucha with 5 minutes Q&A
• Poster presentation (10-minute presentation plus Q&A)

Abstract Guidelines

Please submit an abstract of no more than 250 words. All abstracts must have a title, indicate a theme, and provide:

• A clear statement of the research question, problem, or issue being investigated
• Relevant background information needed to understand the importance of the research question or aim
• A clear statement of research methodology
• A summary of your key findings and an indication of the findings' significance

Please ensure that your abstract is written clearly and concisely, and in a way that would be understandable to a cross-disciplinary audience.

Successful Abstracts

Students will be notified of the outcome of their abstract submission in early August. Successful abstracts may still require revision, and it is only when the revisions are completed and accepted that a student's place at the conference is confirmed.

Students who are confirmed to present at the conference are required to attend one of the following workshops delivered via Zoom by ANU Academic Skills:

• Developing and Delivering Effective Presentations workshop
  • Monday 17th August 2020, 12:00pm-1.00pm
  • Register here.
• Developing and Delivering Effective PechaKuchas workshop
  • Wednesday 19th August 2020, 12:00pm-1.00pm
  • Register here.
• Developing and Delivering Effective Posters workshop
  • Friday 21st August 2020, 12:00pm-1.00pm
  • Register here.

These workshops will provide specific advice on tailoring your presentation and skills for presenting your research to a virtual audience.

Prizes and Awards

All student presenters will be recognised with a certificate. Presenters are also eligible for a range of prizes, each of which has different conditions for eligibility. These include:

1. Judging awards, chosen by the Judging panel during the conference. The winner of each type of presentation will be awarded a cash prize of $500. Runners up in each type of presentation will receive a cash prize of $300.
2. Conference audience choice awards, chosen by audience vote during the conference.
3. Invitation to submit a manuscript to volume 11 of the ANU Undergraduate Research Journal.

Attending the conference

Registration will be free and open to all students, staff and the wider community. Invite your family and friends to hear you present your research! 

Stay tuned for more information on the conference program and registration details!