Samantha Swanson, a Lopezian studying at Eastern Washington University, will be one of a record number of students attending the 31st annual National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR).

In all, 57 Eastern students – twice as many as last year – will attend this prestigious academic event where students are challenged to use their excellence, innovation and critical thinking to make posters and oral presentations on their research projects. The conference will be April 6-8, on the campus of the University of Memphis, Tennessee

Topics that EWU students are presenting this year include:Raising Awareness of Mental Health in Teenagers

Climate Change and Moral Obligations

Pokémon Go: Can catching them all motivate people to walk more?

Ultimate Fighting Championship Head Trauma

Are the Rich Getting Richer and the Poor Poorer?

The Oppression of Muslim Rights and Culture: Categorical Inequality and De-Democratization in France

European Action to Resolve the Refugee Crisis

“The opportunity to have so many of our students attend this respected national event is evidence of the long-standing tradition at EWU to involve our students in research and scholarly pursuits,” said Chuck Lopez, EWU associate vice provost for High Impact Programs. “Attending NCUR reflects EWU’s commitment to academic, and student success.”

NCUR gives participants the valuable opportunity to work with faculty mentors and present their scholarly abstracts and creative works in a formal, professional setting. It also gives students an excellent chance to interact, prepare for graduate school and enhance their workforce skills.

EWU hosted the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in April 2015.