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Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research (UCUR)
Purpose & Overview
University students and mentors from across Utah gather annually to share academic, research, and creative activities with oral presentations and posters. Every year a different university hosts the conference, and MSE students and their mentors are encouraged to participate. BYU covers the expense of the conference registration and transportation (chartered bus) for all students presenting as well as for faculty members who attend.
Who is Eligible to Participate?
Undergraduate students
Date and Location
Friday, February 27, 2026 at Weber State University
Submission Deadline
September 8, 2025 - November 7, 2025
Notice of Acceptance
December 4, 2025
Registration Deadline for Accepted Submissions
December 8, 2025 - January 23, 2026
Conference Website
3-Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition
Overview
The Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) contest is an annual event where participating graduate students have just three minutes and one slide to present their research. The winner of the McKay School of Education 3MT Contest advances to the university level contest to compete against winners from other participating colleges on campus.
Participants are critiqued by a panel of judges in three areas: 1) Comprehension - how well they know the research and was their presentation sequenced well in clearly describing background information and key or possible future results; 2) Engagement – did they convey enthusiasm for their research and engage the audience; and 3) Communication – presentation style, pacing and using appropriate language for a non-specialist audience.
BYU Competition: Individual BYU colleges hold their competition to determine one competitor who will advance the university-wide competition.
Who is Eligible to Participate?
Master's, Education Specialists, and Doctoral Candidates.
Graduate students who received funding from the MSE are invited to participate in both the 3MT and the MSE Mentored Research Conference.
MSE Date and Location
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 4:00 pm
Location TBA
BYU Date and Location
Thursday, March 5, 2026 11:00 am in the WSC Varsity Theater
Application Deadline
Saturday, January 24, 2026 by 11:59 pm
Application
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1mY-RtonlWfULARZdKVZUDzVJt3UA0iPhCP9Ddvt7cbU/
Awards
MSE
1st Place: $800; 2nd Place: $500; 3rd Place: $300
BYU
1st Place: $2,000; 2nd Place: $1,500; 3rd Place: $1,000
Contestant's Choice: $500; Remaining participants: $250
Judging Criteria
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jS477q5qFi1KhsEZZp6GL3aaVOyXb85a/view?usp=sharing
Information on 3MT
McKay School of Education (MSE) Inspiring Learning Expos
Purpose:
Create and strengthen relationships within the McKay School covenant community through sharing inspiring learning experiences that strengthen as many students as possible both intellectually and spiritually in the following ways:
- Focus of Fall Expo – to help students and faculty to make connections that will lead to opportunities for inspiring learning through faculty recruitment of students to work on research and/or inspiring learning projects.
- Focus of Spring Expo – to provide an opportunity for students and faculty to reflect on and share their personal experiences with inspiring learning through student presentations of their work together
SAVE THE DATE
Winter Inspiring Learning Expo
Thursday, March 16th 11:00-11:50 am
More information to come February 11th