Faculty are invited to encourage undergraduates engaged in research to display their work during the University's third annual forum, Frontiers in Undergraduate Research: Arts, Sciences and Humanities, April 14-15.

The forum, an opportunity for students to present their research in a public setting, is open to any individual or team of undergraduate s in any discipline working on an original project that has reached a point where its essence can be communicated.

The deadline for submission of 300-word abstracts is March 1. A committee of faculty and staff from nine departments will select up to 30 projects for inclusion in the poster session.

The committee has adopted a broad view of what constitutes research.

"We consider the term 'research' to embrace the entire spectrum of disciplines represented across the University, with the essential elements being creativity and discovery, a clear understanding of the objective, and evidence of a thoughtful consideration of the problem," says Bob Vieth, research scientist in biotechnology and chair of the committee organizing the event.

Last year's projects included generating multiple frequencies from a single laser for use in low temperature atomic physics; covering freedom of information issues in Connecticut; examining the population genetics and systematics of the Hawaiian damselfly and their implications for conservation; developing a screening tool for assessing dietary folate intake, to identify women at high risk of bearing a child with neural tube defects; studying the experience of blind people using a guide dog for mobility; and analyzing the effects of gender on perceptions of sexual harassment.

The basic form of presentation is a poster but other forms, such as audio or video presentations, are also considered acceptable.

The forum will be held Friday, April 14 and Saturday, April 15. Some presenters will also be invited to display posters of their work and to be on hand to answer questions during the Scholars Day reception on Wednesday, April 12.

Eligible undergraduates who will graduate in December, or who will be away from campus during the spring semester, may still submit their work. If their abstract is accepted for presentation, their advisor or a peer familiar with their work will be required to attend the poster session.

For an application packet, contact Kathy Usher, Honors Program, Box U-147, Storrs; (860) 486-4223; e-mail: vpacad21@uconnvm.uconn.edu

Elizabeth Omara-Otunnu