Almost 500 students will be on hand Thursday for the University of Delaware's eighth annual Undergraduate Research and Service Celebratory Symposium at the Patrick Harker Interdisciplinary Science & Engineering (ISE) Lab.

It's the largest group of students in the event's history, according to Iain Crawford, faculty director of Undergraduate Research and Experiential Learning. They will explain the work they've been doing with faculty mentors and community partners, using posters, oral presentations, exhibits and dance.

"National studies of undergraduate research and experiential learning have shown time and again that these experiences can be the most powerful part of a student's education, shaping his or her life and career for decades to come," Crawford wrote in the symposium's program.

The event is free and open to the public. It begins at 9 a.m., with presentations continuing through 4:30 p.m.

In addition to many UD students, undergraduate researchers are participating from these institutions: Arizona State University, City College of New York, Central Michigan University, Delaware State University, Delaware Technical & Community College, Florida Southern College, Georgia Institute of Technology, Louisiana State University, Missouri University of Science & Technology, Northern Arizona University, North Carolina State University, New York University, Pennsylvania State University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Truman State University, University of Florida, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, University of Maryland-College Park, University of North Carolina-Wilmington, University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, University of South Carolina, University of Texas-El Paso, University of Virginia, Virginia State University, Wesley College and West Virginia University.