Inquiry Weeks: Celebrating Undergraduate Research, Design, and Creative Work at Rice University.
April 9th – 23rd, 2024
Sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry (OURI)
The mission of Inquiry Weeks is to recognize and celebrate ongoing research, design, and creative work by undergraduate students at Rice University. The two-week event aims to provide an opportunity for students to showcase their projects and achievements in variety of settings, while students, faculty, and staff have the opportunity to learn more about the projects occurring at Rice.
OURI will continue to host an expanded Shapiro Showcase Competition with representation from every school and an award ceremony/recognition event. The collective efforts of the Rice community allow for this annual event to highlight and celebrate the incredible scholarly and creative contributions of undergraduate researchers.
Tuesday, April 9th
OURI’s Shapiro Showcase Research Competition
9:00 am - 1:00 pm in the Kyle Morrow Room, Fondren Library
Nominated undergraduates will deliver 8-minute talks on their intermediate to advanced research, followed by a short Q&A. One winner will be selected through judge evaluations and announced at the award reception. Representation from Humanities, Social Science, Natural Science, Engineering, Music, Architecture, Business. More information at https://ouri.rice.edu/events-and-fairs/shapiro-showcase.
Humanities Day
10:00 - 2:00 pm in the Grand Hall and Farnsworth Pavilion, Rice Memorial Center (RMC)
In Farnsworth, a program showcasing undergraduate humanities-based research from a host of departments, centers and programs housed within our school manifest as oral presentations. In the Grand Hall, a showcase of visual based work and poster work highlighting a variety of humanities-based undergraduate research housed within our school.
Registration closes March 15th, 2024. More information at: https://humanities.rice.edu/humanities-day.
Medical Humanities Practicum Showcase and Exhibit
2:30 - 6:00 pm in Farnsworth Pavilion, Rice Memorial Center (RMC)
This event includes short oral presentations from students in the medical humanities practica. They will share highlights from the research they conducted in conjunction with mentors and organizations in the Texas Medical Center and local institutions related to health. Students enrolled in the medical humanities special topics class on pain will also display the alternative pain scales that they have developed.
Questions? Email melba@rice.edu.
Center for Civic Leadership Spring Showcase
5:00 - 6:30 pm in the Grand Hall, Rice Memorial Center (RMC)
The CCL Showcase will highlight the work of students through community based learning and research, as well as, fellowship opportunities. Open to the public.
Questions? Contact jkhalaf@rice.edu.
Wednesday, April 10th
OURI’s Shapiro Showcase Research Competition
9:00 am - 1:00 pm in the Farnsworth Pavilion, Rice Memorial Center (RMC)
Nominated undergraduates will deliver 8-minute talks on their intermediate to advanced research, followed by a short Q&A. One winner will be selected through judge evaluations and announced at the award reception. Representation from Humanities, Social Science, Natural Science, Engineering, Music, Architecture, Business. More information at https://ouri.rice.edu/events-and-fairs/shapiro-showcase.
Fondren Undergraduate Creative Writing Showcase
7:00 pm in Sewall 309
Come hear the winners of the Max Apple Prize in Nonfiction, Larry McMurtry Prize in Fiction, and Susan Wood Prize in Poetry read their works. More information at https://library.rice.edu/creative-writing.
Thursday, April 11th
Social Sciences Undergraduate Research Showcase (SSURS)
Post Session (12:00-1:30 p.m.); Lightning Talks (4:00-5:00 p.m.); Reception begins at 5 p.m., Awards announced at 5:45 p.m. in Kraft Hall
The School of Social Sciences' annual undergraduate research showcase highlighting the research, scholarly and creative work conducted by our majors.
Natural Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium
11:00 am - 5:00 pm in Tudor Fieldhouse
The Natural Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium celebrates undergraduate research in all Natural Sciences disciplines. The event will feature several poster sessions showcasing student research through judged poster presentations, a Rice faculty keynote speaker and a reception for all participants. More information at https://naturalsciences.rice.edu/undergraduate-research-symposium.
Gulf Scholars Student Poster Presentations
3:15 - 4:30 pm in Moody Arts Center
The Gulf Scholars Program facilitates a deeper comprehension of the effects of natural hazards and climate stressors facing urban and industrial communities in the region. It also prepares and inspires students to become change agents in the areas of sustainability and resilience in the Gulf Coast region. Students' poster session and elevator pitch.
Huff OEDK Engineering Design Showcase
4:30 - 7:00 pm at The Ion
This showcase and competition highlights many of the school’s engineering design projects and represent our students’ success. The competition is open to all engineering design projects for each discipline of engineering. The evening will host 80+ judges made up of engineering alumni and local industry to help with the poster session competition. More information at https://oedk.wildapricot.org/showcase/.
Friday, April 12th
OURI's Shapiro Showcase Final and Inquiry Awards
4:00 - 5:00 pm in Farnsworth Pavilion, Rice Memorial Center (RMC)
Awards recognizing excellence in undergraduate research, design, and creative work. Shapiro Showcase finals with winner announced. I
Friday, April 12 – Sunday, April 14th
Shepherd School Chamber Music Festival
Showtimes vary; Alice Pratt Brown Hall
Immerse yourself in three days of captivating chamber music, where Shepherd School students come together to create moments of pure musical magic and artistry. Concert times may change as the festival approaches. More information at https://music.rice.edu/events.
Monday, April 15th
Fondren Fellows Presentations
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm, Kyle Morrow Room, Fondren Library
From mapping archival images of historical plantations in Brazoria County to launching the inaugural issue of a Rice-based comic book anthology, members of the 2023-2024 cohort of Fondren Fellows are working on an exciting range of projects that involve library skills, services, collections, or spaces. As the culmination of their work, Fellows will give lightning talks highlighting what they have accomplished. A reception will follow. This event is open to all. More info at https://library.rice.edu/places/fondren-fellows.
Wednesday, April 17th
CCL Fellowship Kick Off
5:00 - 6:00 pm Miner Lounge, Rice Memorial Center (RMC)
The Fellowships Kick Off will be an opportunity for all students participating in Inquiry Weeks to translate their research and experiences into a fellowship as a next step. We encourage all students to come and hear from other students about their experiences with fellowships as well as connect with CCL advisors to learn more! Questions? Contact jkhalaf@rice.edu.
Thursday, April 18th
Department of Art Senior Showcase
7:00 - 9:00 pm, PCF Tent #2 (corner of Alumni Drive and Inner Loop)
Please join the Department of Art’s Senior Thesis Exhibition featuring work in diverse media created by art majors their senior year.
The evening’s events will begin with an awards ceremony at 6:00 p.m. in Sewall Hall room 301, followed by the student film showcase “Flicks! 2024”, which will be screened in the same room. The senior exhibition will be installed and on view in the PCF Tent #2, along with a celebratory reception located in the same area. The reception and senior show will be available from 7:00-9:00 p.m. that evening. More details and information to come! art.rice.edu.
Tuesday, April 23rd
Houston Action Research Team Presentations
10:00 am Kyle Morrow Room, Fondren Library
Join us in learning more about the Spring 2024 Houston Action Research Team projects. Our two teams worked with faculty and community partners to develop a civic research project. As an interdisciplinary program, the students were able to bring together their academic backgrounds and integrate them into the community-based research! RSVP for HART Presentations: https://forms.gle/ogWVSfaLVxJNHWKXA