Resources for Georgia Tech’s annual Fundamentals of Research Poster Symposium!

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Submission Links

Click here for Google Forms Link

You can submit your Abstract right from this page! Remember, after submitting your Abstract be on the lookout for an email about your acceptance to the symposium so you can get started on your poster!

Abstract Submission (Closes 11:59pm on September 7th)

Start here!

We’re so glad you’re here and exploring this site- this is a great first step into the world of research. This symposium is designed especially for students like you: curious, creative, and just getting started!

Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Submit an abstract describing your idea. It can be based on a hobby, a fun programming project, or any question you want to investigate.
Step 2: If your abstract is accepted (you’ll get an email), you’ll move on to creating a poster and presenting it at the symposium.
Step 3: Present your work in a supportive, low-pressure environment. Two projects from the College of Sciences and one from the College of Computing will be selected as winners, receiving Conference Funds to present posters similar to this one in the future!

Welcome to the Webpage!

July to September 7th: Abstract Submission Open
September 8th to September 14th: Abstract Acceptances Sent Out
Mid October (Weekend Date TBD): Poster Symposium and Awards

Important Dates

Hobbyology: Designing an Experiment

Not sure where to start? Don’t worry- all you need is something you like doing and one thing you can change to see what happens.

Love coffee? Try testing how brew time affects flavor. Into running? See if stretching really makes a difference in speed. Play video games? Measure reaction time with and without music.

Here’s the science part:
- The independent variable is what you change on purpose (like brew time, stretching, or background music).
- The dependent variable is what you measure to see the effect (like taste rating, running time, or reaction speed).

If you’ve got a hobby, you’ve got a project. Pick something you enjoy, choose one thing to change, and see how it affects something else. That’s an experiment- and you’re more than capable of doing it.

Brainstorming for Science

This list is meant to motivate, so feel free to branch out from it!

Cooking/Baking
- Does the number of times you stir brownie batter affect how fudgy the final result is?
- How does resting cookie dough overnight change the taste or texture?

Gaming
- Does playing with music in the background affect reaction time or score?
- Do different controller types (wired vs. wireless) change your performance?

Art & Design
- Does the color of paper affect how people rate the same drawing?
- Do different brush types change the time it takes to complete a painting?

Music
- How does listening to different genres affect your focus while studying?
- Can people match a beat more accurately using a metronome vs. no metronome?

Fitness
- Does stretching before a run affect your overall time?
- How does the time of day you exercise affect how tired you feel after?

Gardening/Plants
- Do plants grow faster when you play music for them?
- Does the direction a plant faces in a window affect its growth?

Ideas for Science Posters

Coding isn’t just for solving big world problems- it’s also great for making everyday life easier (or more fun). Your project can be simple, silly, creative, or just something that scratches an itch you’ve had.

Think about little problems you’ve run into. Ever wanted a program that tells you what to cook based on what’s in your fridge? What about a tool to randomly generate a playlist based off your mood?

Your goal is to write a program that does something useful (or just entertaining). It doesn’t need to be complicated- just think of a need, no matter how small, and build something that helps.

Brainstorming for Programming

This list is meant to motivate, so feel free to branch out from it!

A recipe suggester: type in a few ingredients and get a list of meals you can cook.

Build a random decision maker that picks activities, outfits, or meals for you.

Input your current mood and get a random playlist suggestion (or a list of songs from a text file).

Create a checklist generator based on destination, trip length, and activities for vacations.

Create a choose-your-own-adventure game where users make choices that lead to different outcomes.

Ideas for Programming Posters

Writing the Perfect Abstract

Writing an Undergraduate Abstract

Your abstract is a short summary (150–250 words) that explains your project clearly and completely. It should answer:

	1.	What’s the purpose? (1–2 sentences)
What question are you trying to answer, and why is it interesting?

	2.	What did you do? (1–3 sentences)
Briefly describe your method, experiment, or approach.

	3.	What did you find? (1–2 sentences)
Share your main results or what you expect to find.

	4.	Why does it matter? (1–2 sentences)
Explain why your project is useful, meaningful, or relevant.


How to write an ACS-style abstract

Do:
- Write in third person and past tense
- Be clear, specific, and concise
- Make it understandable to non-experts

Don’t:
- Use figures, references, or citations
- Include too much background info
- Say “results will be discussed”- be direct!

Abstract Do’s and Don’ts

This project investigates how different stretching routines affect climbing performance. The goal was to determine whether static stretching, dynamic stretching, or no stretching has the most positive impact on grip strength and climb time. To test this, participants completed three separate climbing sessions using each type of stretch as a warm-up. In each session, they performed a short climb while their time, perceived effort, and grip strength were recorded.

Preliminary results suggest that dynamic stretching improves climb time and grip strength more than static stretching or no stretching. Participants who used static stretches sometimes reported reduced control or slower starts. These findings support the idea that dynamic stretching may better prepare the body for the explosive and continuous movements required in rock climbing. This project may help climbers build more effective warm-up routines and reduce the risk of injury.

Sample Abstract (Testing Different Rock Climbing Stretches)

Constructing the Perfect Poster

Coming September 8th

@fofrgt

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