Q: What is the Department of Government Student Research Conference?

A: A research conference is a time when scholars come together to present their research to one another. Conferences help educate scholars about each other’s research and help researchers refine their work.

The Suffolk University Government Department Annual Research Conference is a chance for undergraduate and graduate students to present what they have learned through their research experiences to a larger audience. The Conference provides a forum for students, faculty, and the community to discuss research topics in greater depth and learn from each other. The Conference includes paper and poster presentation sessions by students.

Q: Who participates in the Government Department Research Conference?

A: All Government (grad and undergrad) and LAWU undergraduate and/or certificate) students involved in research are encouraged to apply. Students not yet involved in research will discover that attending the conference is a great way to learn about the broad range of opportunities available at Suffolk University.

Research presented at the conference will receive quality feedback from faculty experts. Presenters have the opportunity to share their research and findings with an interested audience that is excited to learn more about your topic. Not only is participation a resume booster, it provides presenters with public speaking experience that can be useful at internships and jobs.

Q: How can I participate?

A: You can participate either by presenting a paper or a poster or by simply attending. Listen and learn from your peers.

You may present a research paper, policy analysis, or, a poster. You may also do a poster or a presentation (no paper required) about an interesting internship experience or study abroad you had.

Q: What is in it for me?
A: If you present a paper or a poster, you can include your presentations on resumes and graduate school applications! If you attend, you have the opportunity to meet other majors, learn something new, and share in the community spirit of the Government Department.

Q: What is a conference paper?

A: Conference papers are similar to research papers and contain a number of similar elements. Conference papers can be more concise and contain most, if not all, of the following information:

  1. Conference paper title
  2. Statement of the research question or the issue under investigation
  3. A brief review of relevant literature about the topic
  4. Statement about the research hypotheses
  5. Details about the data or information used in the research
  6. Statement about the research findings
  7. Concluding statement about the research

Q: What is a panel?

A: Those who wish to orally share their research at the conference will be assigned to panel that will have at least one other presenter. Panels most often are organized by theme, but from time to time, panels may lack thematic cohesion. A copy of the conference paper is given to the faculty member assigned to the panel. Presenters will give a brief 5-10 minute oral presentation about their research, and the faculty member will provide comments and feedback about the research to the presenters based on what was written and said.

Q: When should I start my research for the conference?

A: The paper you submit for the research conference must be completed from a class you took in a previous semester. You can make edits and improvements to it, but you should have a mostly finished project ready to submit by the deadline.

Q: What is a poster presentation?

A: Poster presentations are visual presentations of your research. Posters can be trifold posters or large flat posters. Research posters should contain similar information to what one would present in an oral presentation during a panel. Good poster presentations contain concise presentations of the following information:

  1. Title of the research project
  2. Statement of the research question or the issue under investigation.
  3. Statement of the research hypotheses
  4. Brief review of literature relevant to the research topic
  5. Statement about the information collected and/evaluated to answer the research question and test the hypotheses
  6. Statement about the research findings

Q: I am interested in presenting a poster presentation at the conference. What should I do?

A: Poster presentations are an excellent way to share details about your research in an informal setting and not on a panel of other student researchers.