Mark Your Calendars: Thursday is Showcase

side-by-side photos show a man in a lab coate looking into a microscope, a woman in paint-splattered coveralls near painting supplies, and a man in lab coat sifting material into a plastic bin. In the left corner a purple logo says UALBANY SHOWCASE.
Three of this year's presenters: Matt Long, Kelsey Renko and Jordan Teo. (Photos by Patrick Dodson)

By Margaret Hartley

ALBANY, N.Y. (April 25, 2023) — A public health poster fair in the Campus Center Ballroom. An MFA art exhibition in the University Art Museum. Guided discussions on social justice issues in the lecture center. Drone demonstrations at ETEC.

Just about wherever you go on the Uptown Campus this Thursday you will run into some sort of presentation of student research, academic, experiential or creative work. More than 1,500 students are involved as presenters, and the rest of the student body, faculty and staff are invited to watch, learn from and interact with the presenters.

Thursday is UAlbany’s inaugural Showcase Day, a full day designed to highlight student excellence and offer students a chance to share their work. Visitors to Showcase — the campus community as well as community members, local political and community leaders, and area middle and high school students — will have a chance to view a broad breadth of exhibitions, and to vote on their favorite presentations.

Showcase details

Who: More than 1,500 students participating in more than 900 presentations

What: Poster fairs, research demonstrations, performances, art exhibitions, panel and interactive discussions

Where: Around the Academic Podium, including the Lecture Center Concourse, the University Art Museum, Performing Arts Center and University Library, as well as in the Campus Center, ETEC, Boor Sculpture Studio, Life Sciences Building and Massry Center.

When: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday

Make the most of Showcase

The Showcase program, including times and places of all presentations, is available on Whova, a conference app. By downloading the app, you can plan your Showcase journey by sorting presentations by type (e.g. poster fair or performance), subject matter (e.g. biology or literature) place or time. To get the most out of the day, register and download the app.

You can also find information on the Showcase website. Information will be available at registration check-in tables at the entrance to the Lecture Center Concourse, near Argo Tea, and in the Campus Center Great Hall.

Vote for the best

Through the Whova app you can also vote on your favorite presentation. In addition to departmental awards for presenters, several “people’s choice” awards will be determined by audience voting. Awards will be given for the most popular undergraduate, graduate and group posters as well as for STEM, social science, business, education, arts, humanities and online presentations.

To cast your vote, post the numerical code of your favorite poster, presentation or performance to the award poll in the Whova app. The code can be found next to the presentation on the program in Whova, or you can ask the presenter for their code. Winners will receive Barnes & Noble gift cards.

If you aren’t using the Whova app, you can pick up a paper ballot at one of the registration desks, in the Lecture Center Concourse or the Campus Center.

Join a treasure hunt

Find QR codes inside each of the 10 showcase sites for a chance to win an iPad or Beats Studio Buds.

To enter, locate the Treasure Hunt posters, scan the QR codes and enter your email. If you prefer a pen-and-paper option, pick up an entry form at the main registration table in the Lecture Center Concourse or the Campus Center and hunt for the posters.

Winners will be drawn from the pool of all entrants who have visited all 10 sites, and be notified by email. One entrant will win an iPad and three will win earbuds.