More than 500 undergraduate students got a taste of research this summer at the University of Delaware, drawing from a lengthy menu of options that spanned an extraordinary array of subjects — from the arts to the sciences, from public policy and civic engagement to blazing new trails for people with disabilities, from studies on land, at sea and in the sky, and explorations from the sub-atomic scale to distant regions of space.

They have new experience working in real labs, advancing real studies and learning essential skills such as how to develop good questions, test ideas, gather data, analyze and evaluate results.

Some say they’ve found their focus for the future. Others have a clearer idea of things they would rather pursue. All have come away with new insights, connections and possibilities.

And now they’re ready to show their work. They’ll do that Thursday, Aug. 14, at the 16th annual Symposium for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity, a daylong event that goes from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Patrick T. Harker Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering (ISE) Laboratory.

"For the last 10 weeks, hundreds of students have taken on the challenge of conducting research and creative inquiry across UD's campus,” said Rosalie Rolón-Dow, faculty director of UD’s Undergraduate Research Program and associate professor in the College of Education and Human Development. “Participation in undergraduate research allows students to pursue their passions, to learn about their field of study in engaging ways, to learn valuable skills for future careers and to make a difference in the world through the production of new knowledge and expression of creative ideas.”

UD has long been a leader in supporting and encouraging undergraduate research, commitments that pay dividends in student achievement and professional opportunities.

Undergraduate research has great benefit for the nation and the world, said Miguel Garcia-Diaz, UD vice president for research, scholarship and innovation.

“Undergraduate research is essential to maintaining America's edge in science, technology, and innovation,” Garcia-Diaz said. “Research experiences not only cultivate critical thinking, but also improve graduation rates, strengthen job readiness and foster direct mentorship between students and faculty. From medicine and engineering to the social sciences, humanities and environmental studies, undergraduate research provides students with experiential learning that prepares them to tackle real-world challenges and contribute meaningfully to their fields. The opportunity to conduct research alongside world-class faculty is one of the most compelling reasons to become a Blue Hen!”

Thursday’s symposium puts the spotlight on student discovery and gives students experience in explaining their work, a critical skill for researchers of all kinds.

“The symposium allows these students to showcase the fruits of their labors and to highlight their growing expertise,” Rolón-Dow said. “The symposium also highlights the critical importance of research to UD's mission. As Faculty Director of Undergraduate Research, I am proud of the effort and commitment that our undergraduate researchers have displayed throughout the summer, and I am thankful to all the faculty mentors who shared their time and expertise as they guided students in the research process."

Poster sessions run throughout the day in the ISE Lab Commons area, with oral sessions located throughout the building.

Support for this student work comes from many sources, including UD’s Summer Scholars and Summer Fellows programs, the Delaware IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE), UD Envision, the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the McNair Scholars Program, the Summer Undergraduate Biden School Fellows Program, the Army Research Laboratory, the Graduate College, the CANR Summer Institute, the Office of Naval Research, the Community Engagement Initiative, Cooperative Extension, U.S. Department of Agriculture, the American Heart Association, NIIMBL, the University of Delaware Research Foundation, the Center for Plastics Innovation, the Center for Hybrid, Active and Responsive Materials (CHARM), alumni donors and others.