‘Inspire’ Conference to be Held Feb. 10-12

Allows undergraduates, high school students to present research; network with faculty, industry

HATTIESBURG – Undergraduate students in polymer, materials and biomaterial science will get an opportunity to share their research with other students and faculty at the Third Annual INSPIRE Conference Feb. 10-12 at the University of Southern Mississippi.

INSPIRE – short for the Interstate Network of Science Programs Integrating Research and Education – will be devoted mostly to undergraduate student presentations and poster sessions. The “Spotlight on Excellence in Undergraduate Research” conference will also include high school students from the area, including students from the Mississippi School for Math and Science in Columbus.

“The INSPIRE conferences will spotlight the most creative and disciplined science undergraduates – those who’ve actually done the science,” said Dr. Lon Mathias, a professor in the School of Polymers and High Performance Materials.

To recognize excellence and stimulate further career development in these three sciences, cash prizes will be given for the top three presentations and posters in each content area.

Other scheduled events include a career and job fair, featuring industrial sponsors, talks by world-class scientists, professional development sessions on interviewing, resume preparation, career building and entrepreneurialism, and social activities designed to foster networking and collaborating.

A fun twist to this year’s conference is a cross-disciplinary event in which scientists are trained in the art of “stage presence” by sword fighting with combat experts from the Southern Miss Department of Theatre and Dance.

“How to carry yourself and present yourself in front of an audience is something we don’t often think about in science, so this will be helpful to the students. The best (conference) talks are really good speeches,” Mathias said.

INSPIRE is a unique opportunity, said polymer science professor Dr. Douglas Wicks, because there are not that many conferences available nationwide for undergraduate students. “And if they do go, they are not necessarily able to give presentations and show their research to other students like they’ll be able to do at this one,” Wicks said.

Last year’s conference was a success, Dr. Wicks said, as more than 40 students gave presentations and more than a dozen contributed posters.

In addition to establishing Southern Miss’ reputation as a leader in undergraduate research activities, the conference is a way to recruit top science students into programs in the university’s College of Science and Technology.