Higher Education Council of Berks County (HECBC)
The annual Berks County Undergraduate Research & Creativity Conference allows students to share their research and creativity with each other and the community. The conference is open to any undergraduate student seeking an opportunity to share their expertise with other scholars.
This year's conference will be held at Reading Area Community College on April 26, 2025.
- Conference Schedule - Coming soon
- Conference Program - Coming soon
- Campus Map and Directions
Presentations can be in the form of a paper presentation, poster, artwork, film, or performance.
Paper Presentations
Paper presentations may focus on research in academic fields including, but not limited to: education, social sciences, natural sciences, the humanities, or business. Paper presentations are delivered in a panel session with 3 other students. Individual presentations are 10 minutes long (with or without PowerPoint presentations), with a few minutes for questions from the audience. Students will stay for the entire session (typically 1 hour long).
Poster Presentations
Posters may focus on research in academic fields including, but not limited to: education, social sciences, natural sciences, the humanities, or business. Participants will need to mount their own posters on a poster board to be viewed by others. Students will be assigned a time to stand at their poster to engage with conference attendees. Times will be assigned after submissions have been received.
Visual Art Work
The categories for visual art include but are not limited to ceramics, design, drawing, mixed media, multi-media, painting, photography, printmaking, or sculpture. Visual art will be on display for the entire conference. You are responsible for setting up and removing your own work.
Film Presentations
Film presentations are limited to 10 minutes. Times and location for film presentations will be assigned after submissions are received.
Performances
Performances including but not limited to dance, music, poetry, fiction, or dramatic readings will be limited to 10 minutes. Times and location for performances will be assigned after submissions are received.
Why should students participate?
- Enhance your resume for employment and/or graduate school
- Showcase your scholarly and creative work
- Work closely with a faculty mentor
- Connect with others in your field of interest
- Observe and learn from other presenters
- Refine your presentation skills
- Learn from the keynote speaker
Tips for Student Presenters
Submissions are due by Friday, April 4, 2025
Participants must submit a 100-200-word abstract of their project on the HECBC submission page. All submissions must have an abstract, regardless of format. Abstracts should be written in complete sentences and briefly describe the topic, the type (paper, poster, visual art, or performance) of project, and focus of the project. Abstracts will be included in the conference program online.