Research Symposium
Capital University celebrates its annual scholarship and research event that highlights students’ original research projects and showcases their scholarship activities.
The 30th Annual Symposium on Undergraduate Scholarship and 10th Annual Graduate Research Forum will be held on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. The symposium features presentations from students in all majors.
Students nominated for the James L. and E. Marlene Bruning Undergraduate Research Award will be evaluated by the selection committee prior to the Symposium. Learn more about the Bruning Undergraduate Award and Diversity and Inclusion Research Award, including projects presented by previous award winners!
We begin this daylong celebration of student scholarship at 10 a.m. with Convocation, a ceremony recognizing select students for scholarship and leadership, and recognizing faculty and members for excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service to the University.
Later that day, the Symposium on Undergraduate Scholarship and Graduate Research Forum will showcase the intellectual achievements of Capital students as they discuss their work in a formal setting through oral and poster presentations. Poster presentations will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in The Capital Center. Oral presentations will be at Battelle Hall, Blackmore Library, and Ruff Learning Center from 1:30 to 4 p.m.
Are you a student interested in submitting your research?
Capital's Symposium on Undergraduate Scholarship is a great way to let your friends, family members and potential employers know about the work that you have done.
The deadline for submissions to the 2026 Symposium is 5 pm on Friday, March 6, 2026.
The symposium is open to all undergraduate students, and the forum is open to all graduate students, where student scholarship is broadly defined as:
- Original empirical research, artwork, or creative writing
- Integrative literature reviews
- Performance pieces with commentary
- Case study research projects
- Scholarly critiques
- Internships
Before your students submit their abstract to the symposium online, be sure they have all the information they will need.
In addition, Dr. Elizabeth Hess-Klaniot and Dr. Martin Claar will hold an abstract workshop for students on February 17, 2026, at 4:00 via Zoom. The link to the Zoom is https://capital.zoom.us/j/97002101439.
Directions for submitting research
Before you submit your abstract to the symposium online, be sure that you have all the information that you will need.
- Title of your project
- First author's name
- First author's email address
- First author's ID number
- Names of additional authors (if any)
- Email addresses of any additional authors
- T-shirt sizes of all authors
- Name of the faculty who supervised your work
- Department of the faculty who supervised your work
- Email address of the faculty who supervised your work
- Abstract (100-200 words, written in PRESENT or PAST TENSE), which includes:
- Introductory Statement (background info connecting your work to literature on your topic)
- Purpose (what you were attempting to do)
- Methodological Approach (how you conducted your project)
- Findings (what you learned)
- Contribution to Your Discipline or the Community (why your work is important)
- The type of presentation that you will do (oral or poster)
Directions for symposium poster preparation - Spring 2026
All poster presentations will take place in the Field House of the Capital Center between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. You are expected to stand next to your poster during this time to discuss your project with attendees.
We have included some suggestions to prepare for your poster presentation.
- Discuss your poster with your faculty mentor.
- Please inform any coauthors who also will be presenting this work.
- Print your poster by April 8, 2026. You may either make your own poster or print your poster on the large printer in the Information Technology Center on the lower level of Blackmore Library (see details below).
On Wednesday, April 15, 2026 between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m., bring your poster to the Field House of the Capital Center.
If your research project was conducted as part of a Research Methods course and was not submitted to and approved by the IRB, you must include the following statement on your poster:
“This work was conducted as part of a Research Methods class, and it is not designed to contribute to generalizable knowledge.”
Poster details:
- Name your poster in the standard format: YYYYLastFLastF
- E.g. A single author Jane Doe would name the file 2026DoeJ.pptx (or pdf etc.)
- E.g. Three authors, Jane Doe, Mike Smith, and Lily Park would name the file 2026DoeJSmithMParkL.pptx (or pdf etc.)
- Maximum dimensions for your poster should be 48 inches wide by 36 inches tall (you will need to use landscape format). Poster board, easel, and clips will be provided on the day of the event.
- To enhance the readability of your poster, use at least a 48-point font for your title and author credits and at least a 24-point font for the text.
Questions? Contact the Symposium Planning Committee at symposium@capital.edu.
Important dates
Keynote Event
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
7 p.m. | Huntington Recital Hall
Picnic Lunch and Student Poster Session
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | Capital Center Field House
Student Oral Presentations
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
1:30-4 p.m. | Various Locations
Capital University Theater
Tartuffe or The Hypocrite
Written by Molière
Directed by Sharon Croft
April 16-19, 2026
Capital University Art Exhibition
Show opens on Monday, April 13 at Schumacher Gallery
Opening Reception
Thursday, April 15 at Schumacher Gallery from 5 to 7 p.m.