Kennesaw State Hosts National Conference for Undergraduate Research

KENNESAW, Ga. | Apr 3, 2019

More than 4,500 attendees from across the country to visit campus April 11-13

NCUR 2019

Kennesaw State University will host the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), the largest event of its kind in the country, April 11-13. More than 4,000 undergraduate students will present their research at the Kennesaw Campus, including more than 800 attendees from 30 colleges and universities in Georgia — 400 of those from KSU.

The three-day conference will give undergraduate student researchers the opportunity to share their scholarly abstracts and creative works in a formal, professional setting and interact with students and faculty. NCUR will feature oral and poster presentations, visual arts exhibits and performances, as well as workshops and graduate and career fairs. All academic disciplines will be represented, with the largest group from biology, followed by psychology and engineering.

KSU conference co-organizer Amy Buddie, director of undergraduate research and psychology professor, said that this conference is the largest in NCUR’s more than 30-year history and the first time the event will be held in Georgia.

“Undergraduate research is a cornerstone at Kennesaw State, and by engaging our students in research pursuits, we are strengthening their educational experience,” said Buddie, who launched the Office of Undergraduate Research after securing the NCUR 2019 bid three years ago.

The event is the culmination of more than a year of planning at KSU, only possible with the assistance of approximately 1,000 community volunteers, predominately KSU’s own students, faculty, and staff.

“We’ve made every effort to convey the importance of undergraduate research on a national level, and this conference is possible because of the hard work and support of the Kennesaw State community,” Buddie said.

During the conference, Kennesaw State classes will be redirected to attend NCUR, and professors have been encouraged to create assignments that allow KSU students to experience the conference sessions.

Parking and dining on campus will not be affected. Conference attendees will take shuttles from their hotels or an off-site parking lot, and three pop-up dining areas for breakfast and lunch will temporarily accommodate the participants.

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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 45,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.