Student Research Symposium 2026 

— 3-Minute Mini Presentation —

Symposium Overview 

This presentation is designed for student scholars who are just beginning their research or engaging in course-based research projects. Presenters will prepare a single-slide PowerPoint and present a 3-minute mini-presentation to an audience and a panel of faculty adjudicators. Each presentation is judged on the presenter's ability to:

• Clearly and concisely convey the key points from background to conclusions
• Explain essential elements without jargon
• Capture the attention of a broad audience while communicating the importance of the work

Individual students compete across disciplines, and top presenters receive recognition but do not advance to any statewide competition.

Eligibility

Undergraduate or graduate students currently enrolled at Chico State as well as alumni who received their degrees in the spring, summer, or fall of 2025 are eligible. The research presented should be appropriate to the student’s discipline and career goals. Proprietary research is excluded.

Presentations from all disciplines are invited. The ten categories are as follows:

The CSU, Chico steering committee reserves the right to combine or subdivide these categories or to move an entrant from one category to another, as the numbers of submissions necessitate. 

Rules:

• The research can focus on the development of new ideas, methods, or products, or it may focus on the application and revision of current methods or models. Students in creative degree programs should focus on how their creative work applies to the broader exchange of ideas and the role it plays in providing new perspectives or changing attitudes.
• Use one (1) static PowerPoint slide in landscape format (no transitions, animations, sound, or media allowed) to display throughout the talk
• No props, costumes, instruments, equipment, etc. are allowed
• Present for 3 minutes or less—spoken word only (no poems, raps, or songs)

How to Participate 

Students apply by completing this submission form. All submissions need to be submitted by 11:59 p.m., Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

If you have questions or need more information, please contact Adrienne Glatz at aglatz@csuchico.edu or 530-898-6371.

––––––––––––––––––––––––-–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Faculty Mentor

Note: your faculty mentor is the individual who is guiding or reviewing your research or creative paper/project. They are invited to the competition but have no responsibilities during the event.