All students (graduate and undergraduate) involved in research or creative works are invited to participate in the 2022 STARS event. You can elect to give a short oral presentation, a poster presentation, art exhibition, or performance of your work.
Abstract Submission Deadline: March 4th, 2022
STARS 2022 Tentative Schedule
Thursday, April 7th
| 4:30-5:30 p.m. | Violet Margin Literary Journal Launch | Virtual |
| 6:00-7:00 p.m. | Q&A for Visual Arts Creative Work | Virtual |
| 7:30-9:00 p.m. | UIS Theater Play: A Doll’s House Pt. 2 w/ Talkback | In-Person |
Thursday, April 8th
| 9:00-12:00 a.m. | Live Oral Presentations | Virtual |
| 1:00-3:00 p.m. | Q&A for Posters-Breakout Rooms | Virtual |
| 4:00-5:00 p.m. | Keynote Speaker: TBA | Virtual |
| 5:10-6:15 p.m | Awards Ceremony w/ Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award | Virtual |
For more information, please contact Dr. Lucía Vázquez (lvazq1@uis.edu).
STARS Website
UIS hosts a website for STARS that contains abstracts, posters, creative works, music, and links to live sessions.
STARS Core Planning Team
Brytton Bjorngaard
Associate Professor of Visual Arts, Art, Music, and Theatre Department
VPA 129
206-7547
Email: bbjor2@uis.edu
Lucia Vazquez
Associate Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation, Professor of Biology
PAC 525
206-8112
Email: lvazq1@uis.edu
Eric Hadley-Ives
Associate Professor of Social Work
BRK 332
206-8207
Email: hadleyiv@uis.edu
Tom Rothfus
Director, Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon
UHB 3031
206-7418
Email: troth3@uis.edu
FAQs
What does STARS stand for?
Student Technology, Arts and Research Symposium
When is STARS?
Thursday, April 16th and Friday April 17th, 2020
When are abstract submissions due?
The submission system opens November 1st. The deadline for early submission is December 13th, 2019. The final deadline for your abstract submission is 5:00 p.m., February 14th, 2020. Registration information (abstract submissions must be confirmed prior to registration).
Why submit so early?
Early submission of faculty approved abstracts will guarantee you a spot in the conference (oral presentation, poster, performance or exhibition). Early submissions are also guaranteed free printing of posters (for poster session applicants).
I’ve never presented my research before- is STARS a good “first” symposium?
Yes! This is a great chance to practice your presentation skills in a supportive environment. We strongly encourage all first-time presenters to submit an abstract.
Who should submit?
Any student (undergraduate or graduate) doing research or creative works with a professor should participate! Students can elect to give a short oral presentation (spots will be limited on a competitive basis), or a poster presentation of research, or a performance, or exhibition of creative work.
Can graduate students present?
Yes. STARS will honor both graduate and undergraduate student achievement.
Can online students present?
Yes, STARS will honor online student achievement. Electronic presentation options will be available for both oral and poster presentations. Online students are welcome to attend the symposium virtually or in person.
Can recent graduates present?
Students who graduated in August or December of the previous year are welcome to present, provided that the work was done while they were enrolled as UIS students.
What do I get out of presenting?
There are many benefits to presenting. For example, a presentation is a good way to build your resume or graduate school application. A presentation allows you to show off your creative ability, and to discuss your ideas with other scholars. Ideas for new projects often come out of questions you are asked, and opportunities for new collaboration are often found.
Is ongoing work eligible for presentation, or is the conference just for completed work?
Yes, ongoing work may be presented, but it must have reached a level that your faculty mentor is comfortable with and will approve. If there is any question, please discuss this issue with your faculty mentor.
How do I submit?
Students’ abstracts must be reviewed and approved by their faculty mentor(s), who will then submit the abstracts for the student(s) to the Abstract Submission System. Abstracts are limited to a maximum of 250 words and will only be accepted from individuals who hold faculty/instructor appointments at UIS or other institutions. If you have questions about your abstract, submit them via email to starsymposium@uis.edu. Read more about preparing & submitting abstracts.
What is the required format for posters?
If the printing costs of your poster are being covered by STARS, you will be asked to submit a PowerPoint file of your poster approximately two weeks before the symposium. The dimensions of your poster should be 46 inches (width) x 36 inches (height). To set your poster dimensions in PowerPoint, go to the “Design” menu item and select “Page Setup”.