Student Research Conference & Showcase

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Conference awards

Presenter resources

Each spring...

Presenters from every major and discipline share their latest studies, compositions, and thought-provoking analyses with SMC and the broader East Bay community.

In addition to class projects and capstone presentations, we're also proud to feature the work of students simply eager to share their own artistic designs and personal scholarship. Previous topics have included everything from world events to scientific findings, as well as a broad swath of captivating work that explores the past, the present, and the future.

Student standing in front of the Student Research Conference backdrop

Saint Mary's students, as well as alumni, showcase their passions and academic pursuits, not just for their college professors and peers, but to give themselves a leg up in the next stage of their professional development.

In the age of AI, strong communication and presentation skills are more essential than ever. Being able to talk about your work in a passionate and convincing way is key to a successful career.

Interested in learning more? Read about the upcoming conference below.

2025 Student Research Conference & Showcase

May 15, 2025

3:00-6:00 pm

Soda Activity Center

Presentation Formats

Trifold

Trifolds cost about $10 and will be placed on top of long tables for guests to browse and discuss with the attending presenters.

Poster

Poster files can be submitted electronically by May 5 for all printing and delivery costs to be covered by Saint Mary's. Alternatively, printing costs range around $60-140, and posters must be printed and submitted to the Soda Center no later than May 14. All posters will be mounted on a wall or whiteboard.

Live Presentation

Live presentations (with a slide deck) have a time limit of 10 minutes including Q&A, with ~20 seats per session, presented through a conference laptop; PechaKucha format strongly encouraged.

Prerecorded

Video, recording, and prerecorded artwork have a maximum length of 15 minutes and will be displayed on LCD screens through a conference laptop.

Performance

Performing arts presentations can include a live performance of music, dance, or theater; if accepted, the time and place of the performance will be arranged prior to the conference.

Art Gallery

A gallery project can include any visual art or creative work, including graphic design and creative writing; if accepted, the time and place of the gallery will be arranged prior to the conference.

Elevator Pitch

For the Elevator Pitch Contest, all recorded submissions must be 20-90 seconds, with all contestants being reviewed by judges, then selected finalists by the campus community.

Please note: it is each applicant's responsibility to make sure that their research is IRB approved and compliant.

Conference Awards

Projects can be presented by groups or by individuals, each presentation being eligible to compete* in the 2025 Student Conference Competition in one of the following categories:

Best Presentation in Business
$250

Best Presentation in Counseling & Education
$250

Best Presentation in Arts & Humanities
$250

Best Presentation in Sciences
$250

Best Presentation in Social Sciences
$250

Best Group Presentation Certificate**

Library Research Awards
$2,000, for 1 group and several individual presentations

Elevator Pitch Award***
$250

Total number of awards in each category may depend on funding.

Student receiving a best presentation research award

If you used library services and/or collections in the course of your project, then you may be eligible for one of three Library Research Awards. This award recognizes and rewards conference participants whose research makes expert and imaginative use of the services and collections of the Saint Albert Hall Library to produce scholarly and creative work.

*Early applicants will be given priority in the judging process the day of the conference.
**Group presentations are ineligible for cash prizes but the best group presentation will receive a certificate.
***Elevator Pitch Contest submissions are separate from the Conference application.

Elevator Pitch Contest

Did you work on a project this year that you want people to know about? Or do you have an idea for a project or a product unlike any other? Or perhaps something we've seen before but that you can improve upon in a way no one else has thought of?

Now is your chance to give the world a glimpse of what you have to offer.

Details below.

Submit by May 4

Tell a Story

In the span of 20-90 seconds, roughly the length of a short elevator ride, your goal is to sell your idea, to present your audience with something that they will not only understand, but also remember. Any good elevator pitch, whether for a contest, an employer, or even a potential investor, should be interesting, persuasive, succinct, and memorable.

"In the average one-minute speech, the typical student uses 2.5 statistics. Only one student in ten tells a story... When students are asked to recall the speeches, 63% remember the stories. Only 5% remember any individual statistic. You read that right: 5% remembered statistics; 63% remembered stories. Why is it that students in this exercise remember the stories significantly better than statistics alone? It boils down to this: statistics use the analytical part of the brain whereas stories engage both the analytical part of the brain as well as the emotional part of the brain."
(Lingwall, 2019)

Deadlines, eligibility, & contest details

Past Conferences

Student discussing their conference presentation

Student discussing their presentation with a Conference judge

Band playing at the conference in the Moraga Room

Judge looking at conference presentation video

Student playing the saxophone at the 2024 Student Research Conference

Trifold presentations in the Moraga room

Soda Center Plaza Conference poster presentations

Conference Records

2025 Conference Report & Award Winners

Conference Report

This year's conference broke our record in terms of total presentations (312) and presenters (437), with nearly as many visitors who came to explore these students' incredible work. We are especially delighted by the number of graduating seniors who presented their theses and capstone projects, as well as the various graduate departments represented this year, with presentations from Counseling and Forensic Psychology, Communication and Dance, and even Biotechnology, to name a few. Indeed, the energy at this year’s Student Research Conference & Showcase was nothing short of electric. Our students presented their projects with excitement, confidence, and well-earned pride—and it was equally moving to see the pride reflected in the eyes of their families and mentors.

View Conference Program

Best Presentations in the Arts & Humanities:

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Best Presentations in Business:

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Best Presentations in Education:

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Best Presentations in the Sciences:

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Best Presentations in the Social Sciences:

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Library Research Awardees:

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