Pitt to Hold Second Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium April 4

PITTSBURGH—Eighteen students chosen to participate in Europe: East and West, Undergraduate Research Symposium 2003, a competition designed to provide undergraduates from the University of Pittsburgh and selected liberal arts colleges in the tri-state region with opportunities to develop advanced research and presentation skills, will present their research papers to panels of Pitt faculty and doctoral students from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 4 in the William Pitt Union, 3959 Fifth Ave., Oakland.

The event, which will include five panel sessions, is modeled after a graduate-level conference. One presenter from each panel session will receive $300, while the overall best paper and presentation in the symposium will earn a $500 prize.

The annual Undergraduate Research Symposium is open to students form all majors who have written a research paper focusing on Western or Eastern Europe, including Russia, from a social science, humanities, or business perspective. It is cosponsored by the Center for Russian and East European Studies and the Center for West European Studies in Pitt's University Center for International Studies, with funding from the U.S. Department of Education.

Thirteen Pitt students presented their papers at the first symposium in 2002, and the four winning papers subsequently were published by Pitt's Honors College. In 2003, the competition is extended to other colleges in the region and will include presentations by students from Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa., and the College of Wooster (Ohio).

Student presentations are open to the public. A closing reception and awards ceremony will be held following the presentations.

For more information, call Gina Peirce at 412-648-2290.

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3/27/03/mgc