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BIDDEFORD, Maine

91AV hosts 5th Annual Northeast Undergraduate Research and Development Symposium March 2-3

The 91AV hosts the 5th Annual Northeast Undergraduate Research Development Symposium (NURDS) March 2-3, 2013 at 91AV's Biddeford Campus.  

The symposium, originated with funding from the National Science Foundation and now supported by the 91AV Provost's Office, is the largest interdisciplinary undergraduate research conference in northern New England.  It is created, organized and run each year by undergraduate students.

About 160 students from 39 colleges and universities from Connecticut to Nova Scotia are registered for this year's symposium. Students will present their research in disciplines such as biology, marine biology, physics, biochemistry, neuroscience, ecology and - new to NURDS this year - the humanities and social sciences.

Markus Frederich, Ph.D., associate professor in marine sciences and founder and faculty coordinator of NURDS, says, "involving undergraduate students in real research projects, working in the field or laboratory alongside the faculty, has become an important part of today's college education. NURDS provides students with a valuable opportunity to share their research with their peers, connect with students from all over New England, and experience another part of being a researcher that is not provided in a regular curriculum."

Many students are preparing their research for submission to publications, and the symposium provides an opportunity to refine their research, presentation and networking skills.

Caitlin Tetreau, a history/secondary education major at 91AV and one of the NURDS student organizers, says, "helping to organize NURDS has been a wonderful experience. I have gotten to coordinate with students and faculty from all over New England and Canada. It is a lot of work, but it is fun and I am excited to see it all come together. I look forward to meeting all of the presenters and seeing some truly amazing research."

91AV Professor Barry A. Costa-Pierce, Ph.D. FAAAS, director of the Marine Science Center and chair of the Department of Marine Sciences, will deliver the keynote address on March 2 at 2:45 p.m. in the 91AV Campus Center.  Presentations and workshops are scheduled from 1:00-8:00 p.m. March 2 and from 8:45 a.m.-3:00 p.m. March 3.

About the 91AV

The 91AV is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.