What is the Undergraduate Research & Discovery Symposium?A series of events is held each April to celebrate undergraduate achievements throughout the university. The Symposium is an opportunity for students in all disciplines to present and display their research and creative work to the university and the community. Featured events include the Undergraduate Research Awards ceremony and project presentations. The Symposium also features a keynote lecture by a distinguished researcher.
Grotzinger is among the scientists on the Athena Science Team of the Mars Exploration Rover Mission and is responsible for the planning of the operation. The objectives of the mission include investigation on the geological history of the Martian landscape, using equipment on board the rover to analyze the geochemistry of the soil and rock samples. In 2004, Grotzinger and his team made the discovery of evidence for liquid water on ancient Mars based on mineralogical and chemical data. Due to the likelihood that the early history of the red planet is similar to that of the Earth, Grotzinger hopes to gain more understanding of Earth's evolution through the studies on Mars. Grotzinger is optimistic about Mars' potential in providing clues to the origin of life on Earth. Grotzinger is the Fletcher Jones Professor of Geology at the California Institute of Technology under the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences. His works primarily focus on chemical and physical interactions between life and the environment. In addition to biogeological studies done on Earth, Grotzinger is also active in the geological research of Mars and has made contributions to NASA's Mars Exploration Program. Grotzinger has made major contributions to the field of paleontology. In 2003, Grotzinger and his colleagues researched the idea that the so-called Cambrian explosion of biodiversity may have followed an extinction event of earlier organisms. Furthermore, his recent research basedon carbon and sulfur isotope ratios has shown that vertical circulation of ocean water led to oxygenation of the deep ocean shortly before the end of the Proterozoic, which may also have contributed to the rise in biodiversity. Combining his expertise in sedimentology and biogeology, Grotzinger's research on stromatolites reveal that these structures could form from both biological accretion and physical deposition, asserting that early Proterozoic stromatolites may not all have had biological origins. Since stromatolites are vital tools in understanding the Precambrian biota, this proves to be an important consideration when studying ancient microbialevolution. In 2007, Grotzinger received the Charles Doolittle Walcott Medal from the National Academy of Sciences "for the insightful elucidation of ancient carbonates and the stromatolites they contain, and for meticulous field research that has established the timing of early animal evolution".
2013 Symposium Monday, April 15 through Thursday, April 18
Tuesday, April 16 Friday, April 19 Awards Ceremony Why Participate? The Undergraduate Research & Discovery Symposium celebrates and connects undergraduate research taking place all across UAA, and fosters scholarly discussion between students, faculty, and the community. Participation in the Symposium provides undergraduates with opportunities to gain valuable experience in both oral and visual presentation of their research. Attending the Symposium is also a great way for students who want to become involved in undergraduate research to learn about the opportunities to do so at UAA. Symposium Undergraduate Research Fair Each spring, the Office of Undergraduate Research & Scholarship solicits abstracts from undergraduates who have or are conducting original research or creative projects. Students whose abstracts are selected for the Symposium will present their scholarly work as poster presentations. Additionally, participants' abstracts are published in the annual Symposium Proceedings. Deadline: March 18, 2013 Click here for the call for abstracts. To submit your abstract, please use the online form. Posters must meet these specifications and requirements. |
Undergraduate Research and Discovery Symposium
This year's keynote speaker is John P. Grotzinger, Ph.D. Dr. Grotzinger is the Project Scientist for the NASA Mars Science Laboratory rover "Curiosity" mission, which launched from Cape Canaveral via Atlas V rocket in November 2011 and successfully touched down on the Martian surface on August 5/6 2012.