UMSS Presenters
UMSS25 – April, 11, 2025
New Balance Field House,
University of Maine

Why Be a UMSS Student Presenter?

  • Sharpens presentation and communication skills
  • Practice talking about your work
  • A great addition to CV/resume
  • Network with peers
  • Connect with sponsors/future employers
  • Share what you have been working on with the campus community
  • Refine your thinking processes as a researcher, which can be used in your future career
  • Research skills are extremely valuable in any field
Judging Rubric
A photo of a student presenting at the symposium

How to become a UMSS Student Presenter

Step 1: Submit an Abstract

Submit Your Abstract UMSS25 List of categories by major

UMSS25 Abstracts are due by 4:30 PM on Friday, March 14th!

AI Tools Disclaimer: all students are required to be transparent about their use of AI tools in the drafting of material for Fellowships or the Symposium. Students are reminded that they are ultimately responsible for the accuracy of any and all content submitted for these opportunities: while AI tools are powerful and can be helpful, they can and often do return incorrect information (known as “hallucinations”) when asked to generate text.

Step 2: Choose and Develop your Presentation Method

A. Poster Presentation

48” x 36” Google Slide Poster Template-Horizontal

36” x 48” Google Slides Poster Template – Vertical
  • You do not need your abstract number before beginning this process.
  • NEW THIS YEAR!: The Abstract number is not required to be on your poster.
  • NEW THIS YEAR!: Judges will be randomly assigned abstract numbers.
  • Presentation Posters are displayed on easels and Exhibit Posters are reserved with a 4-foot table section.
  • Printing Options and Information -Posters are due to printing, Friday, APRIL 4th, 12 noon!
  • For additional questions about accessible accommodations, please email um.symposium@maine.edu. 
B. Exhibit Presentation

What is an Exhibit?

  • An exhibit may contain demonstrative items beyond a poster (although a poster may be part of your exhibit but is not mandatory)
  • This may include items like artwork, models, digital presentation features, or other items that have never been seen at the Symposium before!
  • NEW THIS YEAR!: The Abstract number is not required to be on your exhibit.
  • NEW THIS YEAR!: Judges will be randomly assigned abstract numbers.

Presenters are responsible for their own exhibition components, and communication of their space and display needs to UMSS organizers in the abstract submission form.

For additional questions about accessible accommodations, please email um.symposium@maine.edu. 

  • Examples of needs might include a table, power, chairs, etc.
  • We will try to meet the needs to the best of our ability but items like screens, TVs, etc are not something we can supply. 
  • Contact us so we can talk about it! 
C. Oral Presentation

What is an oral presentation?

An oral presentation will consist of:

  • A slide deck students will use as a visual aid to their presentation.
  • Oral Presentations will be scheduled in 15-minute blocks, giving the student a few minutes to set up their technology, 5-7 minutes to talk about their slides, and a few minutes for questions.
  • There will be a UMSS volunteer in the room to keep an eye on the time, and who will notify the student when they need to start wrapping things up.
  • NEW THIS YEAR!: The Abstract number is not required to be on your oral presentation.
  • NEW THIS YEAR!: Judges will be randomly assigned abstract numbers.

Oral presenters will want to bring in their laptops, in order to hook into the system and access the slide deck for presentation.

After completing your slide deck, email it or give access to um.symposium@maine.edu. In the event that your laptop doesn’t connect to the system, a member of the UMSS team will be available with their laptop and can access the presentation.

For additional questions about accessible accommodations, please email um.symposium@maine.edu. 

Day of Program:
*We ask that students stay at the event as long as possible.
8:15 a.m. – UMaine Flute Ensemble
9:00 a.m. – Presentation of the Colors, National Anthem, Opening Remarks, Keynote Speaker: Dr. Ali Abedi, Associate Vice President Research, Director – Center for Undergraduate Research, Professor – Electrical and Computer Engineering
9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Poster/Exhibit Presentations Session 1
Undergraduate Categories: Physical & Mathematical, Business, Education, Allied Health, Engineering
Graduate Categories: Art, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Interdisciplinary, Biomedical

9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Poster/Exhibit Presentations Session 2
Undergraduate Categories: Art, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Interdisciplinary, Biomedical
Graduate Categories: Physical & Mathematical, Business, Education, Allied Health, Engineering
9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Oral Presentations- ROTC Classrooms
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – Musical Presentations – Minsky Recital Hall
1:30 p.m. – Judging Closes
1:40 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Student Panel on stage
2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m – Free Parking, jazz ensemble
3:00 p.m. – Presentation of awards on stage