Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is Scholars' Day?

Scholars' Day is an annual event on the UMHB campus where both undergraduate and graduate students can present research or creative work conducted on campus.

Who created/founded the event?

Scholars' Day was created by the College of Sciences. Dr. Darrell Watson, the former Dean of the college, was instrumental in first developing the concept and seeing that it got off the ground. Dr. Isaac Gusukuma led the planning committee during the first two years—he did much of the groundwork in establishing the events and the format of Scholars' Day.

What is the reason behind the event?

Scholars’ Day seeks to give UMHB students the experience of making a professional presentation. Scholars' Day requires students to complete all the steps that would be necessary for them to present at a conference, including identifying a research topic and conducting the research for their project, completing an application form and writing an abstract, and ultimately creating posters or oral presentations.

Scholars’ Day creates an environment where students can receive constructive criticism about their work. Members of the Scholars' Day committee critique each application, often providing feedback and pointers on how the abstract was written and how research ideas were created. Our goal with Scholars' Day is not only to give students an opportunity to showcase their work, but also an opportunity to learn how to make effective presentations.

How can students get involved? Can anyone participate?

All UMHB students are invited to submit applications for Scholars' Day. Students should identify a faculty member who will sponsor their application and guide them through their research project. All faculty members have access to the application forms and can help students get started.

Are there any other faculty members/staff that are involved with this?

Yes, we have a large planning committee of faculty with other faculty also serving as judges for the awards as well as staff from various departments including IT and PR personnel.

What can students expect when attending this event?

Students attending the event will have an opportunity to see posters and hear oral presentations on a variety of topics. In many occasions, students from nearly every college have been involved in making presentations, so it is far from just a science event. We hope that students will not only learn a lot from their peers, but also become inspired to conduct their own research and make presentations in subsequent years.