March 11 - 13, 2025
Celebrating
our 13th event with a new name
We are excited to announce that the University Research Symposium (URS) has been renamed to the Academic Research Conference (ARC). This change reflects our commitment to fostering a more inclusive and diverse academic environment that celebrates scholarship across all disciplines.
The transition to ARC represents our recognition of scholarly pursuits across all academic areas. It recognizes that valuable contributions to knowledge come from various fields – from the sciences and humanities to the arts and professional studies. Through its hybrid format, the ARC will be a breeding ground for interdisciplinary collaboration and engagement among scholars worldwide and a venue to celebrate the diverse forms of scholarship and inquiry in higher education.
The ARC remains committed to fostering academic excellence, innovation, and creativity across all fields of study so that undergraduate and graduate students and faculty can showcase their work. We invite presentations in various formats, including poster sessions, oral presentations, art exhibitions, and performances.
We look forward to your participation in this inclusive celebration of academic achievement.
Important Dates
Abstract submission and registration closes
February 24, 2025, 11:59 pm (CST)
We Are Proud
The Academic Research Conference’s impact grows each year!
Testimonials
Past Presenter
Experience
Dr. Mara DeLuca, UWA graduate and a Lecturer in Biomechanics at Brunel University London, UK
Past Presenter
Experience
Dr. Fhallon Ware-Gilmore, UWA graduate and Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Past Presenter
Experience
Dr. Lingyan Kong | Associate Professor
Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management
The University of Alabama
As an avid participant in the University Research Symposium (now Academic Research Conference) at the University of West Alabama, our research group has had the honor and privilege of making our presence felt year after year. Every time, our students embark on a transformative journey. The symposium pushes them out of their comfort zones, challenging them to distill months, if not years, of rigorous research into concise, impactful presentations. These presentations are more than just a report of data and results; they’re a testament to the perseverance, creativity, and dedication that drives scientific exploration. As we look forward to attending in the years to come, we remain ever grateful for the lessons learned, the connections made, and the unwavering support of the UWA community.
What's in it for students?
By participating in the Academic Research Conference at UWA, undergraduate & graduate students can share their ideas, discoveries, and works with campus and community. Since this event includes academic research of all kinds, traditionally held in the style of conferences at Bell Conference Center, you can present your work through posters, oral presentations, or data stories.
How to write an abstract:
The abstract is essential to any research paper as it’s the first thing your readers will see, and most likely, they will begin to form a first impression of your research project based on your abstract. Commonly, abstracts are written after you have finished writing up your research as they give a summary of the content of your research.
Event Schedule
- March 11 – Virtual talks and posters
- March 12 – in-person posters, talks, and keynote speakers
Rosie Zilinskas – Mathematician, Founder of No Women Left Behind, Career coach, motivational speaker, and women advocate
Erin Barker – Executive director and co-founder of The Story Collider, Moth’s GrandSLAM storytelling winner (twice)
- March 13 – in-person workshop
- Storytelling workshop
Awards
Students, graduates, and undergraduates can earn cash prizes and gain recognition for their outstanding work. The ARC offers three awards for each undergraduate and graduate student presentation. The awards are given based on the merit of the work presented and the student’s presentation skills. A group of highly respected professionals evaluates student presentations according to a specific rubric. For the in-person, the awards include:
Students must present in person to be eligible for cash prizes.
Undergraduate Poster Awards (In-person):
1st Place   $150
2nd Place  $100 Â
3rd Place  $50 Â
Undergraduate Poster Awards (Virtual):
1st Place   $150
2nd Place  $100 Â
3rd Place  $50Â
Graduate Oral Talk Awards (In-person):
1st place    $100
2nd place   $75
3rd place   $50
Graduate Oral Talks Awards (Virtual):
1st place    $100
2nd place   $75
3rd place   $50
Location
Poster session and Graduate School and Career Expo will be held at Hughes Gym located at 42 Pruitt Drive, Livingston, AL 35470
Keynote and oral talk will be held at Bell Conference Center located at 37 Webb Circle, Livingston, AL 35470
About ARC
For twelve years, the Academic Research Conference invited students and faculty from around the globe to showcase their innovative academic research and creative work to establish an archive of their research and assist them in achieving their educational and professional objectives. The Academic Research Conference is a venue that shows the students’ commitment to investigate research questions and show their creative work in a broad scope of disciplines.
The ARC empowers participants to share their thoughts, discoveries, and other creative work with other students, faculty, and the community. Undergraduates, graduates, and professionals are welcome to present at the ARC. Based on participation in the 2023 meeting, we were inspired by the overwhelming participation of international researchers from 13 different countries. Therefore, we offer the conference in a hybrid format (in-person and virtual) to accommodate international participants and travel limitations.
Presenters can choose their preferred style of showing their work. Presenters who can attend the in-person version of the meeting will present their research to many attendees. Students who cannot participate in the in-person meeting will create an internet archive of their research, share their work with a broader audience, and build their portfolio through the virtual meeting format (live Zoom sessions or prerecorded video). The opportunity to record presentations will enable students to develop a digital exhibit of their research and creative work on the ARC YouTube Channel.
The ARC started in 2011 with only 12 poster presentations and a handful of faculty mentors in one major. It serves over 450 students, 73 faculty mentors, and 20 majors. In 2011, the ARC was conceived as a local conference serving UWA students, evolved into a regional meeting serving surrounding universities in 2017, and matured as an international venue welcoming everyone from around the world in 2021.
The 2025 ARC is cohosted by Ajman University (United Arab Emirates) and the University of Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah (Morrocco).
Ajman University (AU) made substantial progress, climbing from the top 800 universities in 2019 and ranking at #477 in 2024. These achievements earned AU the prestigious “Most Developed University in the Arab Region” award from QS, recognizing its outstanding regional progress. Additionally, AU is ranked #3 for International Students and #6 for International Faculty worldwide. AU is ranked #5 in the UAE for the International Research Network.
The University of Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah (USMBA) is one of Morocco’s oldest and most prestigious universities. USMBA is ranked among the top 1000 universities in the world in the Times Higher Education World University ranking of 2020.
The University of West Alabama, Alabama Power, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, Tombigbee RC&D, EBSCO Industries Inc., Sumter County Farmers Federation, and UWA Office of Sponsored Programs and Research sponsor the Academic Research Conference.
Steering Committee
- Mustafa Morsy (Chair) – UWA
- Anouar Alami – USMBA
- Chris Theriot – UWA
- Danielle Miller – UWA
- Kaleigh Pate – UWA
- Melissa Haab – UWA
- Tracy Keener – UWA
- Haysley Gillespie – UWA
- Soumaya Abdellatif – AU
- Guangming Cao – AU
ARC Hosts
Frequently Asked Questions
The University of West Alabama (UWA) celebrates its students’ outstanding contributions to research and other creative work in many academic disciplines. The conference aims to engage students, graduates, and undergraduates in the research mission of UWA by supporting the creation and dissemination of knowledge. In addition, the ARC hopes to inspire other students to pursue research opportunities and facilitate professional networking opportunities for all students. When students share their ideas, discoveries, and artistic expression with the local community and global audiences, they gain valuable insights into their research, gain confidence, and be better prepared for the next chapter of their lives.
The ARC includes poster sessions and oral presentations in an in-person or virtual format to give students the flexibility to present. The ARC started in 2012 as the University Research Symposium and continued to make a difference in many students’ professional development.Â
The ARC is open to all students, undergraduates, graduates, faculty, and other professionals from across the disciplines and the globe. We welcome individual or collaborative research, creative work, or scholarship that is part of a course, a thesis, a study abroad program, or independent study overseen by a faculty mentor. The ARC is also a place for performing and fine arts students to share their work with a larger audience via in-person or virtual format on our YouTube channel.
Students can present any work across various college disciplines. We welcome individual and group presentations in different formats, including poster presentations for undergraduates, poster or oral presentations for graduate students, and other creative works by any student. Our abstract submission permits the registration of single or multiple authors/presenters under the guidance of one or more faculty members.
Yes. It should be beneficial to present any ongoing research. Students will get feedback on their work, which allows them to adopt new ideas and improve their research. A poster presentation is a great way to present ongoing research. We know of many students who presented their research after one semester. Student’s excitement about sharing their research was incredibly beneficial to their persistence in the study. Students are encouraged to speak with their research advisor or mentor; they will assist you in the abstract writing and poster development processes.
Yes. Many students present their research after graduation.
Yes. If you plan to do so, please let the organizer know so your talks will be presented at different sessions, if needed.
Yes, however, the virtual presentation builds students’ online presence on our YouTube channel. Students can participate in the poster or oral competitions only once.
We have provided many valuable guidelines, tips, and tricks on how to write an abstract, create a poster, or give an oral talk here. We also encourage students to seek help from their research advisor.
One of the primary goals of the ARC is to be inclusive and to provide the opportunity to present to everyone regardless of their location, citizenship, color, race, etc. The conference is inclusive and, as a whole, is not competitive. The event allows students to come together and share their research with others in a supportive and respectful environment and a very relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
The ARC offers judging sessions for students’ presentations to provide constructive feedback on students’ research and presentation skills. The ARC provides multiple cash prizes for best poster and oral presentations to encourage students’ participation and support high-quality work. Students do not have to participate in the competition if they wish.
The ARC welcomes the participation of everyone at no cost. Students, non-presenters, family members, community members, etc., are encouraged to attend. The ARC encourages all student presenters to invite friends, family, and mentors to come and view their presentations.
Presenters will receive certification via email 2-3 weeks after the conference.
Yes, there are three cash awards for undergraduate and three for graduate student presenters. Please review the award descriptions and eligibility requirements under the awards tab.
Yes. Student volunteers support the conference in many event logistics, i.e., photographing, poster setup, etc. Faculty and other professionals can volunteer as judges or session moderators. If you are interested in volunteering, please email us at urs@uwa.edu.
Please email urs@uwa.edu
1 College Dr.
UWA Station 7
Livingston, AL 35470