Research and Scholarship Conference

The 2021 Research & Scholarship Conference is hosting an academic award competition! Graduate and Undergraduate winners will be announced. Each winner will receive a $150 Academic Award! Students opt in during their registration!

The 2021 Featured Presentation Competition Details: 

The 2021 Featured Presentation Competition is accepting abstracts and artist statements for consideration in three thematic areas based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Abstracts and statements submitted for award consideration will be juried by a panel of experts. Winners will earn $150 Academic Award (subject to financial aid considerations and taxes).

In addition, we hope to bring together faculty from across the colleges to share in how WCU defines research and creative inquiry, and to highlight the contributions that students and faculty have made in their fields as it relates to the themes below.  

Graduate and Undergraduate students working on projects related to the three themes below are encouraged to register their abstract or statement for award consideration. A graduate and undergraduate student will be named a winner in each of the three themes. Students can register and opt in through the registration form for the Undergraduate Exposition or the Graduate Research Symposium. 

Featured Presentation Competition Themes and Relevant Project Topics: 

Do you have a project that connects with these themes? Do you want to be considered for a $150 Academic Award? If so, register and opt in for this award competition! Registration closes on February 11, 2021. Award winners will be announced March 24, 2021 on the RASC virtual website.

Theme 1: Cultural Awareness, Diversity Equity & Inclusion, and Peace & Justice 

• Reducing Inequalities (gender, sexual orientation, race and ethnicity) 
• Cultural Acceptance & Awareness 
• Cultural Revitalization 

• Quality Education & Educational Reform 
• Reducing Violence & Criminal Justice Reform 
• Social Justice & Ethical Existence 
• Racial & Ethnic Inclusion 
• Institutional Reform (e.g. accountable and inclusive institutions from local to global) 

Theme 2: Sustainable Progress and Future Innovation 

• Clean water and air quality 
• Affordable & Clean Energy 
• Sustainable Economic Growth 

• Corporate Responsibility 
• Industry, Innovation, & Infrastructure 
• Sustainable Cities & Communities 
• Responsible Consumption 
• Conservation   

Theme 3: Health & Well-being, Partnerships, and Regional Impact or Engagement 

• Poverty 
• Hunger 
• Decent Work & Economic Growth 
• Conservation of Land & Water Resources 

• Local and Global Partnerships 
• Western North Carolina & WCU Community Impact (e.g. projects that directly impact our community and region) 
• Promotion of healthy lives and living for people of all ages and health conditions 
• Access to clean and safe sanitation 

Students Register on the web pages for the Undergraduate Exposition and the Graduate Research Symposium

Important Dates:

November 23, 2020: Registration opens for the Undergraduate Exposition and Graduate Research Symposium

February 11, 2021: Registration closes

February 12 - March 5, 2021: Digital upload period for all registrants (separate instructions to be provided to registrants via catamount email)

March 22, 2021: Website opens to the community

March 24, 2021: Featured Presentation Winners and Faculty Roundtable Discussion for the Undergraduate Exposition

March 25 - 26, 2021: Live Graduate Project Discussions via Zoom and the Live Graduate Research Symposium Awards Ceremony