The World Congress on Undergraduate Research (WorldCUR), a prominent showcasing platform for undergraduate research, will host its annual conference with 13 students participating from the University of Central Oklahoma— the most ever invited to participate at WorldCUR. This year, the conference will be April 3-6, at the University of Warwick, located in Coventry, England.

WorldCUR brings together the world’s best undergraduate researchers to focus on some of the most significant challenges facing the global community. Out of 14 submissions by Central students, 12 were accepted and one was waitlisted, an increase from the 2019 WorldCUR, where only three out of nine submissions by UCO students were selected. This increase shows the university’s ongoing commitment to quality and innovation in research, creative and scholarly activities.

“The World Congress on Undergraduate Research is an international effort to bring together the top student researchers from around the world to share their work,” said Michael Springer, Ph.D., professor of history and director of the Office of High-Impact Practices at Central.

“Presentations are organized around themes and presenters are chosen to contribute to cross-disciplinary discussions around the themes. Students representing four of UCO’s five colleges will travel to the University of Warwick; I am thrilled that so many UCO students will have the opportunity to participate in this transformative experience. The large number of students accepted speaks to the high quality of research our students and faculty mentors are doing on our campus.”

The students attending the WorldCUR conference are Kayley McBride, a senior biomedical engineering major from Edmond, Oklahoma; Alex Matsayko, a sophomore engineering physics major from Choctaw, Oklahoma; Nierouz Alrashdan, a senior general studies major from Oklahoma City; Heidi Reust, a senior English-creative writing major from Guymon, Oklahoma; Micah Ballweber, a senior interior design major from Luther, Oklahoma; Sarah Carter, a senior interior design major from Oklahoma City; Emme Douglas, a senior interior design major from Minco, Oklahoma; Christiana Bakare, a senior community/public health major from Oklahoma City; Jessica Addai, a senior women’s, gender and sexuality studies major from Oklahoma City; Jonathan Quiver, a senior interior design major from Norman, Oklahoma; Ryleigh Tucker, a senior actuarial science major from Piedmont, Oklahoma; Jazmyn Franklin, a senior nursing major from Edmond, Oklahoma; and, Maya Williams, a sophomore women’s, gender and sexuality studies major from Oklahoma City. Each student will share their research and discuss global issues and create or strengthen international research partnerships.

Central encourages and supports research, creative and scholarly activities across campus to enhance critical thinking skills and provide hands-on experience for students entering the job market or advanced degree programs. The UCO Office of Research and Sponsored Programs coordinates and administers a variety of opportunities for students to be involved.

To learn more about student research at Central, visit uco.edu/academic-affairs/ office-research-sponsored- programs/student-research.

For more information about the 2023 WorldCUR, visit cur.org/what/events/ students/wcur/.