The Strike a Spark conference is back in person this spring at the Convocation center on Wednesday April 20.
Please mark your calendars for Wed., Apr. 20, 2022 and plan to participate in this event. Student presentations, performances, and exhibitions from all disciplines are encouraged. The conference will be in the Convocation Center, with global online students having the option for live virtual presentations.
How will participating in the Strike a Spark event benefit my professional goals and career?
Employers as well as graduate and professional schools love to see the ways in which you engaged beyond the classroom requirements. Strike a Spark is the perfect opportunity to take an idea or passion to the next level by turning it into a project and then sharing what you learned with the campus community. Additionally, it will help you to hone the skills necessary for success in the workforce; presentation and professional speaking are two skills we love to see our Cal U Vulcans practicing to the point of perfection. Some students have taken their experience at Strike a Spark as exactly that- a spark that led to enthusiasm and engagement in a course of investigation and knowledge building that resulted in multiple presentations in state and national venues and in some cases, in publication in academic journals.
What does it take to create a “poster” presentation for this conference?
We have a Microsoft PowerPoint template that can be used to create the poster. Then you fill in information about your background, methods, results and discussion of your topic. A printed version of the poster will then be displayed in the convocation center on Wednesday April 20th so that you can discuss your project with other conference participants. The following webpage gives you step-by-step instructions. https://www.calu.edu/inside/events/research/presentation/poster.aspx
How will it benefit me to present in person?
In person presentations give you the opportunity to gain experience and confidence in pitching your ideas to colleagues and professors. The Strike a Spark experience is a less stressful and more supportive atmosphere for students to sharpen public speaking skills for graduate school and future employers.
What is the deadline?
The deadline to submit an abstract (brief summary) is Monday April 6, 2022.
https://www.calu.edu/inside/strike-a-spark/index.aspx
Where can I get some assistance on generating an idea or actually making the poster?
The Center for Undergraduate Research is here to help! Please reach out to Dr. Block block@calu.edu or Dr. Nicholson nicholson@calu.edu .We are ready to meet with you to help you to get your project underway.