Forward Thinking Research Symposium

Date: December 1, 2026

Time: 1:00 – 3:00 PM

Location: AMU Monaghan Ballrooms

 

Each year, the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) showcases the exciting research being done at Marquette. In celebrating research across campus, the ORSP Forward Thinking Research Symposium provides opportunities to learn more about work being done in other disciplines and fosters professional skills for students. Unlike traditional conferences, where researchers convey the results of work that has been completed, the Forward Thinking presentations focus on projects that will take place in the next 6–12 months.  

Highlights for 2026
  • Researchers will make five-minute oral presentations - “elevator pitches” - of the work they want to do. Presentations must utilize the PowerPoint template posted on the event website.
  • This will be an in-person event, to promote further discussion and collaboration.
  • Presenters need to be available Tuesday, December 1st from 1:00 – 3:00 m.
  • Presentations should emphasize: WHY this work and your project are important (the purpose), HOW you’re going to do the work in the next 6-12 months (the process), and WHAT you want to achieve (the results).
  • Student researchers on the project must do the oral presentation, to help further their presentation skills and articulation of the work in a quick and digestible They are encouraged to complete the submission of both the Notice of Intent form & the presentation.
  • Presentations should be prepared with the intent of promoting interest in funding for the future work they intend to do. Content should be prepared like a grant proposal.
  • Presentations will be evaluated by those in attendance and the top four selected will be offered a $500 award. This year, awards are being sponsored by:
  • A reception follows the oral presentations, to include:
    • Food, drinks, and socializing
    • Posters (not required but may be included to allow for further engagement after the oral presentations)
    • Representatives from some of Marquette’s academic centers, institutes, and initiatives
    • Raffle prize

 Full details of this event can be found in the 2026 Forward Thinking Research Symposium Guidelines.

Important Dates and Links
  • September – Guidelines posted on ORSP website
  • October 15– Deadline to submit Notice of Intent to Participate form is 4:00 pm
    • Information needed includes the project title and the names and email addresses of the lead MU faculty and student involved
  • November 16 – Deadline to submit PowerPoint Presentation is 4:00 pm. 
    • Information needed to includes: name, email address and department (faculty mentor) for each member of the project team, title, brief project description (2-3 sentences), keywords (4), PowerPoint slides (ppt file format), and indication if displaying a supplemental poster.
    • PowerPoint PresentationTemplate
  • December 1– Day of Event 
    • 12:00 – 12:45  Set up poster (if applicable) 
    • 1:00 – 1:10      Welcome and Introduction
    • 1:15 – 2:45      Oral Presentations 
    • 3:00 – 4:00      Reception and Poster Presentations
  • Mid-December – Award winners announced

If you have any questions, please contact Project Planning and Development in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.