CLA Students Showcase Undergraduate Research at Purdue Conference
The Purdue Office of Undergraduate Research hosted its annual Spring Undergraduate Research Conference from April 13–17, bringing together students from across disciplines to present research through posters, talks, and virtual presentations. This year, College of Liberal Arts (CLA) students made a strong showing across the conference, contributing research that explored topics ranging from community and belonging to interdisciplinary collaboration and social development.
This year, 77 CLA-affiliated undergraduate students participated in the conference, contributing to 211 presentations connected to the College of Liberal Arts through student authors, faculty mentors, or project acknowledgements. The strong turnout reflected CLA’s continued commitment to undergraduate research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and experiential learning opportunities.
Throughout the poster sessions held in the Purdue Memorial Union Ballrooms, students engaged with faculty, peers, and campus visitors while gaining valuable experience presenting their research in a professional academic setting.
Several projects focused on issues connected to student experiences and community-building. One presentation examined how student-led religious organizations help students develop a sense of belonging and connection on campus. Reflecting on the project, one student shared that the experience “made me realize how important it is to find something you belong to on campus.”
Other students explored emerging topics in political science and technology, including the use of artificial intelligence tools in analyzing congressional legislation and public policy research. The presentations demonstrated the broad range of topics CLA students are investigating and the ways undergraduate research connects classroom learning to real-world issues.
Students presenting research from their SCLA classes also reflected on the value of sharing classroom-based research in a public academic setting. One group noted that the experience “allowed us to apply what we learned in the classroom to real conversations and share our ideas with a larger audience. It also helped us build confidence in presenting and collaborating as a team.”
In addition to presenting their work, many students described the conference as an opportunity to strengthen collaboration, communication, and research skills. One group shared that they “learned how to collaborate while learning the basics of doing APA citations, and generating further research questions.”
Faculty mentors and attendees engaged with students throughout the sessions, creating an environment that celebrated curiosity, scholarship, and interdisciplinary discovery. The conference not only highlighted the depth of undergraduate research taking place within the College of Liberal Arts but also provided students with opportunities to develop skills that extend beyond the classroom and into future academic and professional pursuits.