Scholars Forum

Students currently enrolled in any undergraduate or graduate program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania are invited to present their research or creative works at the annual Scholars Forum. Students graduating from undergraduate programs in the previous December are eligible to submit a proposal to the forum as long as they are able to attend the event and present their work. Submissions must represent high-quality work that goes beyond the typical classroom assignment and must have a faculty sponsor who will attest to the quality of the work. Research done in collaboration with faculty, other students, or practicing professionals is eligible as long as the student has played a substantial role in the activity.

Under no circumstances will late submissions be accepted! Students must complete all information requested in the online submission system.

Below is information for students to use to prepare their submission via InfoReady. Some of the information requested includes:

• Student presenters’ contact information

  • Please note that only IUP email addresses will be accepted. Students who list non-IUP email addresses in their contact information will not receive important information about their presentation. You are responsible for monitoring your IUP email account for important information related to your presentation.

  • In cases where more than one student is doing the presentation, please note that the name listed first will be considered to be the “lead” presenter. The lead presenter will receive information about the presentation. It is the responsibility of the “lead” presenter to make sure all co-presenters receive this important presentation information.

• Title of Presentation

• Abstract of 150 words or fewer

  • An abstract is ideally a short paragraph that explains your research question, what you did to answer the question, and what you discovered (your results).

  • Your abstract should summarize the presentation and be free of grammatical and spelling errors. Abstracts will not be edited by Scholars Forum personnel. Your abstract will be printed in the final program as it appears in the proposal submission.

• Name and IUP email address of sponsoring faculty member

  • Faculty members must review and approve your presentation information prior to submitting it to Forum organizers.

•  Human Subjects in Research

  • Please note that if your research involves human subjects, you must obtain IRB approval before beginning any research activities. For more information, see the Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects guidelines for projects that will result in public dissemination versus Student Research Projects.

See below for submission formats. For more information, please send an email to scholars-forum@iup.edu. 

Information about the day of the event will be sent to participants via email. The Scholars Forum is held at the KCAC from 9:00 a.m. to noon. All are welcome to attend. Participants will receive their judging schedule in advance of the event and are encouraged to be present at their posters or after their presentations to answer any questions. 

• Printed event programs are available at the Scholars Forum. Volunteers will be available at the registration table to assist with navigation.

• Breakfast snacks are available for all visitors in the KCAC lobby from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. Lunch will be provided in the PNC room from noon to 1:00 p.m.  

• This is a professional conference. Please dress appropriately.

• Attend as many sessions as you can! The work is interesting, and your fellow scholars will appreciate your support.

• Be courteous to fellow presenters and refrain from speaking during presentations. Turn off cell phone ringers during presentations

• Presenters should plan to be available the full hour for which their judging is scheduled to answer any questions (though you are welcome to stay longer).

• Award winners will be notified by IUP email after the conclusion of the event. Winners will be invited to the Scholars Forum Awards Reception.

Your presentation should fit on one standard conference-size poster (max dimensions 36" tall x 48" wide). Posters will be displayed on rolling bulletin boards at the event. Your poster should be displayed from 9:00 a.m. to noon, but you are only required to be present during your one-hour judging window. You will be notified of your judging window via email.  

This format is ideal for ongoing work or work in more advanced stages of completion. The Office of Research and Innovation can cover printing costs if your poster is submitted to the Printer Center (print-poster@iup.edu) by the deadline (two weeks in advance of the Forum). More details will be sent to presenters via email. 

Contact the Writing Center for assistance with creating poster presentations, or visit these websites:

• Writing Guides: Poster Session
  Colorado State University
• How to Create a Research Poster
  The Basics New York University
• Creating a Poster - What Exactly is a Poster Presentation?
  University of Wisconsin–Madison

Your presentation may be 15 minutes long, plus five minutes for questions and answers. Podium presentations will be arranged into sessions based on common themes.  Session moderators will keep presentations on schedule. Presentations may not go beyond 20 minutes total. You will be notified of your presentation time via email and are expected to be present for the one-hour duration of your session to answer any questions and to minimize disruptions for the other presenters in your session. 

This format is ideal for work that is in more advanced stages of completion since it allows for the presentation of a research or creative project with research results, if available. The podium presentation rooms will be equipped with a computer and large screen. You can support your presentation with PowerPoint slides, videos, or other digital means. 

Here are some resources that may help you prepare your presentation:

• Creating a Video Presentation for a Virtual Conference
  UC Davis: University of California, Davis
• Giving a Technical Presentation (Giving a Talk)
  By Michael Ernst, MIT
• Ten Secrets to Giving a Good Scientific Talk
  By Mark Schoeberl and Brian Toon, American Geophysical Union

The juried art exhibit is open to art students. An initial review of applications is conducted by art faculty and the Scholars Forum planning committee, and selected pieces are displayed for the duration of the event.

Students in the creative arts are invited to participate in the conference by presenting visual art installations, literary readings, or performances. Performances/presentations will be for a maximum of 20 minutes, allowing for a question-and-answer period during that time frame. An initial review of applications is conducted by music faculty and the Scholars Forum planning committee.

Students in the Business College are invited to present business case studies, crafting narratives to persuade the audience to support solutions to specific problems. An initial review of applications is conducted by the Eberly College faculty and the Scholars Forum planning committee.

Offered in conjunction with the Scholars Forum, the 3MT event offers graduate students an opportunity to present their original scholarship to a panel of judges in three minutes. Top participants from a preliminary round (prior to the Scholars Forum) will advance to the final competition.

Get more information about the Three-Minute Thesis competition.

Thank you to all who participated in the 2025 Scholars Forum. A full list of participants is available in the 2025 Scholars Forum program. Congratulations to the 2025 award winners!