UA News

The UA student-run conference welcomes undergraduates from the southwest region to a unique scientific conference.

Students have organized a unique scientific conference in that it was organized entirely by undergraduates for undergraduates. 

The Biological, Engineering and Chemical Undergraduate Research, or BECUR, Conference will be held at the University of Arizona Feb. 26 and 27.

During the conference, undergradautes will present their reserch in "an environment of shared knowledge" while also receiving recognition for their contributions to their fields, the conference Web site notes.

The conference also set the stage for the first southwest regional meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Undergraduate Affiliate Network, or ASBMB UAN. ASBMB UAN is a national organization dedicated to undergraduate research and research-based education.

Dario Pasalic, a UA senior majoring in biochemistry and molecular biophysics, founded the conference in an effort to draw more attention to undergraduate studies.

Pasalic began developing the conference more than one year ago under the guidance of James T. Hazzard, a local UAN chapter contact, and put together a team of fellow undergraduate students.

"We really didn't know where to start. There are several regional conferences hosted by the ASBMB, but none in the southwest," Pasalic said.

The group began by seeking support and funding from sponsors, including ASBMB, the Research Corporation for Science Advancement, the American Chemical Society and Arizona Research Laboratories. Afterward, they were able to recruit undergraduate students and exceptional high school students working in university laboratories.

Students were asked to submit abstracts that described research projects they had worked on. The group received nearly 100 submissions, and selected roughly 75 poster presentations. They also selected six students to give oral presentations at the conference.

Pasalic and organizers are optimistic about the success of the conference.

"We don't really know what to expect. I hope this keeps going, not just at the UA but in the southwest region between all the schools," Pasalic said.

Between research presentations and poster sessions, students will hear from UA President Robert N. Shelton, Neena Grover, the regional director of the southwest UAN for ASBMB, and also John Enemark, a Regents' Professor Emeritus of chemistry and biochemistry.

Participants will also compete for more than $5,000 dollars in scholarships, grants and awards given to the best presenters and posters.