From October 21 to 25 Carolina will celebrate all things research with over 50 events featuring interactive displays of research and opportunities to get involved in our community.
This year, we’re highlighting basic research — the advancement of knowledge and foundation of groundbreaking discoveries — with the theme Back to Basics. We’ll dive deep into the fundamental research fueling innovation across disciplines at Carolina, showcasing how it translates into real-world solutions that change lives.
New this year is the Research & Discovery Fair on October 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Carolina Union. The fair will feature over 25 Carolina research labs and projects from marine biology to robotics to drones to dramatic arts. Sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Burroughs Wellcome Fund, the event is designed for undergraduate students to get a sneak peek at what some of our researchers do and learn how they can get involved. This celebration of research will be filled with demonstrations, interactive experiments, and a preview of how discoveries are made.
Here’s a look at some other exciting University Research Week events:
- Virtual Lunch & Learns: Join Carolina’s brilliant researchers and staff as they share how their contributions are advancing the fields of research support, communications, data management, and career building, taking our research to new heights!
- Het Talks: Hear from award-winning early-career faculty in a variety of research disciplines. The speakers are winners of this year’s Phillip and Ruth Hettleman Prizes for Scholarly Achievement, and their talks will provide an engaging look into their work.
- CMAS Conference: The Community Modeling and Analysis System (CMAS) Center has served the air quality modeling and analysis community for more than two decades by providing access to open-source software that can be used to analyze air quality impacts and develop policies to protect public health. The conference features three days of keynote speakers, presentations, poster sessions, receptions, and panel discussions.
- Three Minute Thesis: In this academic competition, participants have just three minutes to explain the breadth and significance of their research project to a non-specialist audience. It is designed to assist current graduate students with fostering effective presentation and communication skills. This event is the final round of the competition and the winner advances to represent Carolina at nationals.
- Core Facility Showcase: Core directors will be present with posters and other information about their services and will highlight new services and technologies available. Come and learn about the amazing research infrastructure our cores provide across disciplines.
- A Case for Climate Optimism: Join the UNC Institute for the Environment for a keynote address by Zealan Hoover ’13, senior advisor to U.S. EPA Administrator Michael Regan and director of implementation. Hoover will make a case for climate optimism as a leader in environmental public policy.
- Pariser Global Lecture for Innovation in Physical Sciences: Hear from the dynamic Dr. Kimberly Budil, director of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and watch the induction of Chancellor Lee Roberts into the UNC-Chapel Hill Chapter of Sigma Xi.
- PARE Talks: Each year, the Postdoctoral Awards for Research Excellence (PARE) are given in recognition of the research promise demonstrated by individual postdoctoral scholars from across campus. The five winners of the 2024 PARE awards will each present their research and receive plaques for their accomplishments.
- UNC School of Nursing Groundbreaking & Expo: The groundbreaking ceremony will be followed by a reception and school-wide expo showcasing student and faculty activities throughout the School of Nursing.
University Research Week is your chance to be a part of the incredible world of discovery happening right here at UNC-Chapel Hill. Don’t miss out!
For more information and the full event schedule, visit the University Research Week website.