Student Presenter Guidelines

Students must register their presentations using the Presenter Registration Portal:

• If you are presenting as an individual, you will submit one registration for your presentation.
• If you are presenting as a group, your group will make only one submission for your presentation, with the submission including information on each of your group’s student presenters.

Before registering, please review the information on this webpage — especially the Presentation Guidelines, which outline presentation types and expectations.  

The portal link and detailed registration instructions will be shared with the campus community here and via email when the portal opens.

All student presenters must be registered by Friday, March 13, 2026.

Students who registered to present poster presentations or asynchronous virtual presentations will receive instructions for submitting their poster or presentation via email.  

Posters and presentations must be submitted by Wednesday, April 15, 2026.

For detailed guidance on posters and asynchronous virtual presentations, please review the Presentation Guidelines.

Any UAlbany undergraduate or graduate student in any academic program can present at Showcase.  

Students will have several options to present their work, including poster and slideshow presentations, demonstrations, panel discussions, performances and art installations. There will also be asynchronous and synchronous virtual options.

Students who are working with a faculty member on a project — as part of a class, lab group, research or creative team, or in a department-sponsored event — are eligible to present individually or in a group. Presentations should represent the culmination of extended research or creative effort. 

You’ll learn how to explain your research and demonstrate your achievements to a wide audience — an experience that will help prepare you for presenting and being persuasive in any future career. You can also add Showcase to your résumé.

Check out student testimonials from previous Showcase Days!

Your “Showcase Advisor” may be a graduate mentor or faculty member from an undergraduate capstone, honors course, independent study, or other extended research project or creative effort. For example:

• A chemistry student who has been working on a project under the supervision of a faculty member would ask that faculty member to serve as their Showcase Advisor. 
• A history student who wants to present a capstone research paper would ask the faculty member who taught (or is teaching) that capstone class to serve as their Showcase Advisor.
• A master's or doctoral student in atmospheric sciences who wants to present research conducted under the guidance of a faculty member would ask that faculty member to serve as their Showcase Advisor.

Showcase Advisors can, but don’t have to, be your departmental academic advisor. Showcase Advisors must know your work and be prepared to approve it for presentation. 

You must work closely with your Showcase Advisor to ensure your title and abstract are well prepared before they are submitted.  

Your research doesn’t need to be complete yet to write your abstract. The abstract simply provides an overview of your work and explains what a Showcase attendee can expect to learn from your presentation.

What is an abstract?

An abstract is a 50- to 150-word paragraph that provides a concise summary of your project or presentation.

The two most common abstract types are descriptive abstracts and informative abstracts:  

• A descriptive abstract is used for humanities and social sciences. It describes the major points of the project, including the background and focus. It does not include methods, results or conclusions.
• An informative abstract is used for science and engineering. It includes the essential points of the project, summarizing the background, purpose, focus, methods, results and findings/conclusions.  

Need help with your abstract?

• Work with your Showcase Advisor.
• Make an appointment with the Writing Center.  
• The Minerva Center for High-Impact Practices has tips for writing an abstract. 

A poster presentation is a visually engaging, printed or digital display that summarizes key points of a project or research for attendees to read at their own pace.

Poster presentations will be scheduled in one-hour blocks, during which you will repeat your presentation several times to the different attendees who approach your poster.

You should be prepared to describe your work to attendees and answer their questions.

Poster Templates

You must use one of the Showcase poster templates to create your posters. (To download the templates, open the link and select “File,” then “Save As” and then “Download a Copy.”)  

Your poster must include:

• All student presenters’ names, as well as their academic programs’ schools/colleges and academic departments
  • If you don’t know what school/college your academic department belongs to, visit UAlbany’s Academics page to find out.
• Your Showcase Advisor’s name, school/college and academic department
• The Showcase logo
• The UAlbany logo

Your poster must also be 48 inches wide by 36 inches tall.  

Poster Printing

Only students who select Poster as their modality on the Presenter Registration Portal will receive submission instructions via email for poster printing.

You must submit your poster by Wednesday, April 15, 2026, to receive free printing. Students who submit posters after the submission deadline will have to pay approximately $90 to print their poster. 

Poster Pickup

You’ll receive an email with instructions on how to pick up your poster in the days leading up to the event. You’ll also receive your presentation location via email.

You must bring your poster to your presentation location on Showcase Day. Easels, boards and clips will be provided. We recommend arriving at least 15 minutes early to check in and get set up. Please be quiet as you enter the space. 

A slideshow presentation is a structured sequence of slides combining text, images, and media to present information in a clear, organized format.

• Slideshow presentations will be allotted 20 minutes in a one-hour session, and you will present once. Plan to spend a few minutes setting up your presentation, about 10 to 15 minutes presenting and about five minutes answering audience questions.
• Use the software of your choice to create your presentation. For example: Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, Canva, Adobe, etc.
• Have at least two options for accessing your presentation. For example: Save it to a USB drive, email it to yourself and/or save it to your personal OneDrive. Bring your cell phone to your presentation so you can complete two-step authentication to access your email or OneDrive.
• Arrive at your presentation location at least 15 minutes before your session time. You’ll receive an email with your presentation session time and location in the days leading up to the event. Please be quiet as you enter the room. Check in with the room moderator upon arrival. The moderator will determine the exact time when you will present, so you should be present for the entire hour. 

A panel discussion is an interactive conversation led by a moderator and featuring multiple speakers who share perspectives and respond to questions on a specific topic.  

Unlike a formal presentation, panels are designed to be dynamic discussions, and panel members may speak multiple times depending on the flow of questions and dialogue.

• Panels will be allotted one hour, and panels will present once. Please be mindful of the time you spend talking and/or presenting, as there will likely be other panel members speaking before and after you. 
• Each panel must have its own moderator. Your moderator should be a faculty member. If a faculty member is not available, a graduate student may serve as a moderator. The moderator will guide the panel discussion, make sure each panel member has the opportunity to speak and end the panel session on time. 
• Slides are optional and not required for panels. If the panel chooses to use slides to keep the audience engaged, the group should agree on one shared presentation for the entire panel. This helps avoid confusion and minimizes technical issues. Keep slides simple and limited to key points.
  • Use the software of your choice to create your presentation. For example: Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, Canva, Adobe, etc.
  • Have at least two options for accessing your presentation. For example: Save it to a USB drive, email it to yourself and/or save it to your personal OneDrive. Bring your cell phone to your presentation so you can complete two-step authentication to access your email or OneDrive. 
• Arrive at your presentation location at least 10 minutes before your panel starts. You’ll receive an email with your panel time and location in the days leading up to the event. Please be quiet as you enter the room.

A demonstration is a hands-on presentation showing how a process, technique, or product works in real time.  

• Demonstrations will be scheduled in one-hour blocks, during which you may repeat your five- to 10-minute presentation several times.
• Fully charge any electronics before your presentation. Outlets will be limited and not guaranteed. You may consider bringing your own power bank. You will be provided with a six-foot table or similar setup.
• Arrive at your presentation location at least 20 minutes before your demonstration time. You’ll receive an email with your demonstration time and location in the days leading up to the event. Please be quiet as you enter the room. 

An art installation is a creative, immersive display that uses artistic elements to convey ideas or evoke experiences in a physical space.

• Art installations will be scheduled in one-hour blocks, during which you may repeat your five- to 10-minute presentation several times. Artwork may stay on display for the entire day, but please be available during your scheduled time to describe your work to viewers and answer their questions.
• Arrive at your art installation location at least 20 minutes before your presentation time. You’ll receive an email with your presentation time and location in the days leading up to the event. Please be quiet as you enter the room.

A performance is a live, expressive presentation using acting, music, dance or other performative arts to communicate a concept or story.

Performances will be scheduled for the amount of time requested by the performing group. Performance groups can be part of a class or club.

Arrive at your performance location at least 20 minutes before your performance time. You’ll receive an email with your performance time and location in the days leading up to the event. Please be quiet as you enter the room.

An asynchronous virtual presentation is a pre-recorded or self-paced online presentation that participants can access anytime. Showcase attendees will be able to view asynchronous virtual presentations online and in the eSports arena on the day of the event.

You will record your own five- to 10-minute presentation and submit it by Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Only students who select Asynchronous Virtual Presentation as their modality on the Presenter Registration Portal will receive submission instructions via email.

A synchronous virtual presentation is real-time online presentation or discussion where participants interact live through video and/or chat. Showcase attendees will be able to view synchronous virtual presentations on the day of the event.

• Presentations will be scheduled in one-hour blocks, during which you will give your five- to 10-minute presentation once. A moderator will reach out in advance with an order of presenters. You should be present for the entire hour.  
• You will give your presentation on Zoom and share your screen to display your presentation materials. You may be asked questions by other presenters and audience members.