The University of Toronto is well-known for its dynamic research environment, and U of T Scarborough is committed to fostering opportunities for undergraduate research experiences. As part of this commitment, the UTSC Office of the Vice-Principal Research and the UTSC Library launched two research initiatives in 2016: the UTSC Undergraduate Research Poster Forum and the UTSC Undergraduate Research Prize. A third opportunity for recognition exists through the tri-campus Patricia and Peter Shannon Wilson Undergraduate Research Prize.
Each program provides an opportunity for students who have excelled in research, scholarship and creative activities to showcase their research and win cash prizes.
More Information
UTSC Undergraduate Research Poster Forum - Application deadline: February 23, 2021 11:59 PM EST
UTSC Undergraduate Research Prize - Application deadline: Thursday, April 8, 2021 11:59 PM EST
Patricia and Peter Shannon Wilson Undergraduate Research Prize - Application deadline: Winter 2021 TBD
The UTSC Library and the Office of the Vice-Principal Research proudly sponsor the Undergraduate Research Poster Forum to showcase the significant research contributions of talented UTSC undergraduates. The forum is a competitive, adjudicated event that promotes intellectual exchange and gives students an opportunity to develop presentation skills by disseminating new research and creative activities both to academic communities and non-specialists. The forum provides the perfect opportunity for students interested in becoming involved in research to learn more about what other students have already done.
The forum is appropriate for all UTSC undergraduate students who:
Students are invited to submit proposals that demonstrate research that addresses issues of local, national and global importance, and that connect with the University of Toronto’s Strategic Research Plan. This year the focus is on Knowledge Translation (KT), which refers to the translation of research results into knowledge available to others beyond academia. KT moves research from the laboratory, the research journal, and the academic conference into the hands of people who can put it to practical use. It includes synthesis, multiple ways of presentation and distribution, exchange, and ethical application of knowledge for the purpose of benefiting knowledge users and improving lives. Research results must be presented in accessible, non-technical language, images and graphs that can be understood by a layperson or non-specialist as well as by the expert. One main objective is to make research understandable without trivializing or over-simplifying. Such is the challenge of Knowledge Translation!
A panel of judges will evaluate each poster presentation based on students' presentation of their work, based on the following evaluation criteria: Content & Comprehension; Visual Information & Organization; Communication; Engagement; Citations, References, & Context. Students should be prepared to explain their poster to a judge who is not familiar with their field. Please refer to the detailed judging rubric (pending) for additional information.
Students will fill out a poster proposal submission that includes a short description of their topic and a 250-300 word abstract of their work, together with a faculty support form.
Students will fill out a poster proposal submission that includes a short description of their topic and a 250-300 word abstract of their work, together with a faculty support form.
Twelve (12) finalists will be selected from among the submissions for the Research Poster Forum. Successful applicants will be contacted in early March. To help prepare for the Forum, students will be invited to participate in a mandatory asynchronous information and poster workshop prior to the Forum.
Submission deadline: February 23, 2021 at 11:59pm EST - midnight (firm deadline)
Finalists contacted: March 1, 2021
Asynchronous Research Skills and Poster Presentation Information Session for finalists (mandatory): must be completed between March 2 - March 5, 2021. Emails will sent to the finalists with additonal details.
Final e-Poster submission deadline: Thursday, March 25, 2021 11:59pm EST midnight
Event Day (Virtual online presentation): Tuesday, April 6, 20201 (time and additional details to come)
Winners announced: by Tuesday, April 13, 2021 via email, the UTSC Library Website and social media channels.
Students are also encouraged to work with their liaison librarians.
Cash prizes of $1000, $500 and $250 will be awarded to first, second and third place winners, who will also be invited to have a digital version of their poster available in TSpace.
All twenty final participants will receive a Certificate of Participation and will receive a notation on their transcript as part of Co-Curricular Record program.
Prizes are jointly funded by the UTSC Library and the Office of the Vice-Principal, Research.
Contact your liaison librarian or review our Frequently Asked Questions.
If you have a disability/health consideration that may require accommodations, please advise Nina Adamo or the AccessAbility Services Office before the submission deadline.
The UTSC Undergraduate Research Prize honours UTSC students who have excelled in research, scholarship and creative activities in the classroom and beyond. This prize will recognize the research and creative activities of undergraduate students, their overall contribution to the University of Toronto Scarborough, and illustrate the role of the library in the research process. The project may take many forms such as a traditional paper, a database, a website, digital project or creative expression.
The UTSC Undergraduate Student Research Prize is a financial prize sponsored jointly by the UTSC Library and UTSC Office of the Vice-Principal Research. It is open to all students who are currently registered as UTSC students and have completed their first year of study.
Recipients of the UTSC Undergraduate Research Prize will be recognized at the UTSC annual faculty and staff Celebration of Distinguished Services in June. Prize winning projects and/or recipients will also be featured on the UTSC Library website and OVPR website and invited to be archived on TSpace.
The prize is open to all undergraduate students who meet the following criteria:
The prizes(s) will be awarded primarily on the basis of the quality of the research project(s) and the illustration of the use of scholarly resources in the research process. Please refer to the detailed judging rubric for additional information.
The Judging Committee shall consist of UTSC faculty members, and be chaired by representatives of the UTSC Office of the Vice-Principal, Research and Innovation.
Application for the UTSC Undergraduate Research Prize will be made by the undergraduate student and will consist of the following:
Applications must be submitted electronically as a single PDF file to researchoffice@utsc.utoronto.ca.
Application deadline: Thursday, April 8, 2021 11:59 PM EST
Winners announced: End of May/Early June 2021
Prizes awarded: June 2021
End of May/Early June 2021 -- Winners announced
June 2021 -- Prizes awarded
Up to 3 cash prizes of $1000 will be given out annually, one each for projects in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Sciences. The judges evaluate the projects on their quality and reserve the right to award prizes in one, two, or all three of these categories.
Contact your liaison librarian or review our Frequently Asked Questions.
Check out the library website for details, contact your liaison librarian, or join us at 1 of 2 drop-in info sessions: February 10, 2021 10-11 AM EST OR February 11, 2021 1-2 PM EST.
Undergraduate Research Poster Forum submission deadline: February 23, 2021 at 11:59pm EST - midnight (firm deadline)
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