URS 2019 Tuesday , October 29
Undergraduate Research
Symposium
2019
Mudd 26
October 29, 2019
The Symposium
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29 October 2019
3:45pm - 10:00pm
Sponsored by
JHU Nu Rho Psi
HOUR
URS provides a unique forum for JHU undergraduate students to share their work. Students will have the opportunity to give an 8-10 minute presentation describing their research, followed by 2-3 minutes to field questions from the audience. In previous years, students have used programs such as Powerpoint or Prezi to organize their talks, but you have the flexibility to choose whichever presentation style is most suitable for you and your work.
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NOTE ABOUT HONORS
Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology students are able to meet the Honors criteria outlined by their departments by presenting their research at the Undergraduate Research Symposium.
For more information about Neuroscience honors, click here. For more information about Behavioral Biology honors, click here.
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If you are NOT a Neuroscience or Behavioral Biology student, you may still be able to earn Honors credit by participating in URS. To find out if this event qualifies for you, please contact the administrative offices within your department. Also, make sure that you understand the requirements you must meet to earn Honors
(e.g. having faculty members present to assess your involvement in research and ask questions following your presentation to gauge your understanding). We do not coordinate that aspect of URS for you.
About URS
What is the Undergraduate Research Symposium?
The Undergraduate Research Symposium is a university-wide event open to all students conducting independent projects and participating in research. Reflecting the central philosophy of Johns Hopkins University, URS provides a unique forum for undergraduates to share their intellectual curiosities and passions, and be recognized for their work. This year, we hope to showcase the innovation that can result from collaboration across disciplines and facilitate discussion between students with distinct research focuses. Ultimately, our intent is to showcase the extraordinary and diverse work being done by undergraduate students and to encourage even greater undergraduate participation in research in all disciplines.
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URS 2019 will be held on Tuesday, October 29, with student presentations scheduled from 3:45-8:00 pm. Dr. Anjan Chatterjee will then deliver the keynote address at 8:00 pm.
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There will be a reception following the keynote speech at 9:00pm.
Keynote Speaker
Anjan Chatterjee , MD
Distinguished Professor of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania
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"Hidden Brain Responses to the Aesthetics of People and Places"
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We are surrounded by people and places. Beyond communicating with people and navigating
through places, we cannot help but evaluate them. In this talk, Dr. Chatterjee will review basic conceptual underpinnings of neuroaesthetics, a relatively new field that examines the biological bases of aesthetic experiences. He will argue that our brains respond automatically to our aesthetic
environment, by discussing recent results from his lab that focus on faces and architectural
interiors. We have hidden brain and behavioral responses to facial beauty. These automatic
responses have unfortunate consequences because of the promiscuity of our valuation
systems, which links beauty and morality. Similarly, our brains respond to architectural interiors
based on psychological construct of which we are not explicitly aware. These responses have
implications for the relationship between the environment and our sense of wellbeing.
General Presentation Tips
Visual Contrast
Contrasts in brightness and tone between illustrations and backgrounds improves legibility. The best color combinations include white letters on medium blue, or black on yellow. Never use black letters on a dark background. Many people are red/green color blind - avoid using red and green next to each other.
Experimental
There is no time in a 10-minute paper to teach standard technology. Unless the paper directly examines this technology, only mention what is necessary to develop the theme.
Free of Nonessential Information
If information does not directly support the main point of the image, reserve this content for questions.
Simple Format
With a simple, uncluttered format, the image is easy to design and directs audience attention to the main point.
Clear Purpose
An effective image should have a main point, instead of a collection of available data. If the central theme of the image is not visible, improve the paper by revising or deleting the image.
Find more helpful tips at:
Clear Train of Thought
Ideas developed in the paper and supported by the images should flow smoothly in a logical sequence, without wandering to irrelevant asides or bogging down in detail. Everything presented verbally or visually should have a clear role supporting the paper's central thesis.
Clear Train of Thought
Ideas developed in the paper and supported by the images should flow smoothly in a logical sequence, without wandering to irrelevant asides or bogging down in detail. Everything presented verbally or visually should have a clear role supporting the paper's central thesis.
Integrated with Verbal Text
Images should support the verbal text and not merely display numbers. Conversely, verbal text should lay a proper foundation for each image. As each image is shown, give the audience a brief opportunity to become oriented before proceeding. If you will refer to the same image several times during your presentation, duplicate images.
Integrated with Verbal Text
Images should support the verbal text and not merely display numbers. Conversely, verbal text should lay a proper foundation for each image. As each image is shown, give the audience a brief opportunity to become oriented before proceeding. If you will refer to the same image several times during your presentation, duplicate images.
Designed for the Current Oral Paper
Avoid complex data tables irrelevant to the current paper. The audience cares about evidence and conclusions directly related to the subject of the paper - not how much work was done.
Unified
An image is most effective when information is organized around a single central theme and tells a unified story.
Digestible
Excess information can confuse the audience. With an average of seven images in a 10-minute paper, roughly one minute is available per image. Restrict information to what is extemporaneously explainable to the uninitiated in the allowed length of time - reading prepared text quickly is a poor substitute for editing
Readily Understood
The main point should catch the attention of the audience immediately. When trying to figure out the image, audience members are not fully paying attention to the speaker - try to minimize this.
Rights to Use Material
Before using any text, image, or other material, make sure that you have the rights to use it. Complex laws and social rules govern how much of someone's work you can reproduce in a presentation. Ignorance is no defense. Check that you are not infringing on copyright or other laws or on the customs of academic discourse when using material.