THE HISTORY OF THE GURC
The second annual GURC was held on January 24 - January 25, 2014, at Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia. During this conference, attendees presented research in all disciplines, and from all institutions throughout the southeast. Outstanding posters and presentations were awarded prizes. The conference featured:
- Keynote speakers: Dr. Patricia Marstella, Director of Science Education at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Undergraduate Science Program of Emory University, an Expert NIH bioethicist, and Dr. David Resnik, a frequent speaker on topics of research practice and ethics.
- Panel and Poster presentations from all disciplines.
- Special sessions where students could learn about the opportunities to conduct, enhance, and promote their research.
- Outstanding research from scholars conducted during their undergraduate course of studies and from institutions throughout the country.
- Opportunities for faculty mentors to share best practices and faculty-student research.
- Prizes for outstanding posters and presentations.
In 2014 and 2015, Georgia Southern University's Division of Continuing Education hosted the 3rd and 4th Annual GURC at the Nessmith-Lane Conference Center in Statesboro, GA.
The conference was designed to bring together undergraduate student researchers, university and college faculty, and scholars from around the Southeast to showcase the excellence in research and scholarship occurring in the region. Undergraduate student researchers from all disciplines were encouraged to present their work during the November conference.
The unique conference setting provided the opportunity for students to learn how to be active members of professional conferences. Presentations at the conference followed a variety of formats including poster sessions, artistic displays and oral presentations. Attendees also had the ability to make connections with peers, faculty in graduate programs and other mentors. University representatives from around the southeast were available throughout the conference to answer questions and provided information about their graduate programs.
Georgia Southern's keynote at GURC was Georgia Southern graduate, Jemelleh Coes. Jemelleh is a doctoral student in Education Theory at the University of Georgia. As Georgia’s 2014 teacher of the year, she has had several speaking engagements including her keynote presentation at the 2014 Georgia Educational Research Association Annual Meeting.
Georgia College & State University hosts the GURC
In 2016, Georgia College & State University hosted the 5th Annual GURC Conference on their campus in Milledgeville, Georgia. Dr. Rosalie Richards was the keynote speaker. Dr. Richards, former GCSU faculty member and current associate provost for Faculty Development and professor of Chemistry and Education at Stetson University spoke to guests on marketing their undergraduate research to graduate schools and future employers. The event brought students and faculty from 13 Georgia colleges and universities. The event emphasized research in the sciences and creative endeavors.
In 2017, Georgia College & State University hosted the 6th Annual GURC Conference on its campus in Milledgeville, Georgia on October 27 and 28. The Keynote speaker was Dr. Beheruz N. Sethna, President Emeritus (1994-2003) and Regents' Professor of Marketing, University of West Georgia. His speech was on "Why student research and creative work is relevant in a rapidly changing society." Of those attending the keynote speech, 27.3% found it valuable and 70% found it very valuable. The GCUR adopted a constitution and added additional institutions to its membership.