Fill out a registration form, including your project abstract and presentation type, to present as an individual or group at RaCAS.

• RaCAS is a hybrid symposium, so read the instructions carefully before choosing your presentation type and format.
• Abstracts must be approved by a faculty mentor before registration.
• Enter final content as it will appear on all RaCAS materials.
• Only one application per project is required (submit once per group).
• Include registration information for all student presenters who will be attending RaCAS, not all co-authors.
• You will receive an assigned time to present and additional instructions after completing your registration.
• Any accommodations or additional set-up needs must be finalized by April 4, 2025.
• Abstract submission closes March 21, 2025.

Before starting your RaCAS registration, make sure you have the following:

1. Choose Your Presentation Type

Decide how you are presenting on Friday, April 25, 2025. See full details on project types and submission requirements below. Please note, all presentations will upload materials to the virtual showcase.

1. Poster Presentation: Build a 36" x 48" poster and prepare your 5-minute pitch to talk as people walk by or in a virtual lightning talk. Upload your poster PDF and a 3-minute recording of your talk to the virtual showcase. Each in-person poster registration will be provided one easel and poster board to display your poster in the main gym and one free poster printing from RaCAS. Indicate if you have additional set-up needs or accommodation requests (chair, table, outlet access etc).
   
   
2. Oral Presentation: Prepare a 12-minute talk with accompanying slides to share in-person for the RaCAS audience. Upload your presentation slides and a 3-minute overview of your project to the virtual showcase. Provide your slides to the moderator; a computer and projector will be provided.
   
   
3. Media Exhibit, Performance, or Demonstration: Present your work in the best way for your project. When sending in your abstract, propose an artwork series, a dance exhibit, interactive showcase and more! Explain in detail what you will be bringing/installing and describe your specific spaces needs: display dimensions, table, outlet access, easel and boards, etc. Not sure how to present? Reach out to undergrad.research@ucdenver.edu to brainstorm. Set-up must be finalized with RaCAS by April 4, 2025. Upload summary images or website links and a 3-minute overview of your work to the virtual showcase. 

2. Select Your Project Category

•  Arts & Media
•  Biomedical Sciences
•  Natural & Physical Sciences
•  Social Sciences & Humanities
•  Tech, Engineering, & Math
  

3. Prepare Your Project Title and 300-Word Abstract

• All content must be approved by a faculty mentor before registering. 
• Registration must be a final version as it will appear on all RaCAS materials, the RaCAS committee does not edit submissions.

View abstract-writing tips and workshop recording in Handshake.

4. Gather Additional Information

• Main applicant information: CU student ID, CU email, phone number, and major information
• All additional student presenter information (include all co-presenters attending RaCAS, not all co-authors): CU student ID, CU email, and major information
• Faculty Mentor information: first and last name, CU email, department, and school
• Additional set-up or accommodation needs: must be communicated and finalized by April 4, 2025

Optional: Nominate a CU Denver faculty member for an Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year Award

Include a a brief (150-200 word) description of why you have nominated this mentor. You may include how your mentor exhibits the following:

• Success of mentees/ impact on mentee's academic and or/ professional achievements
• Dedication to providing innovative opportunities for mentees
• Emphasis on diversity and inclusion through mentorship approaches /philosophy

Optional: Your Project may qualify for the President’s Sustainable Solutions Challenge: View Instruction video (5-min) or Instruction Slides.

This challenge awards scholarly research and innovative projects that address sustainability in three multidisciplinary categories. If you feel your project fits the definition for one of these areas (outlined below), indicate the category you would like to be considered for and include a brief (150-200 word) explanation of why your project is relevant to the challenge. Following judging, the CU President’s office will award up to $2,500 in prize money across the categories to the winners.

Policy/Society/Community: 

• Practices/Approaches that support long-term economic growth without negatively impacting a community's social, environmental, and cultural aspects.
• Evaluate the impact of activity and devise sustainability goals to create a more livable future.
• Fulfillment of basic human needs regarding the ability to lead a whole life, such as happiness, satisfaction with life, finding meaning, and flourishing.
• Sustainability in health and wellness creates needs for current generations that will not harm future generations.

Sustainability in our Environment & Technology:

• Practices/approaches to support, maintain, and improve future interactions without compromising the future of resources or needs of our environment.
  
• Technology and materials that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
  
• Conserving energy and consumption.
  
• Creating equity in access for broader adoption.

Disparity/Parity in the Arts: 

• Artistic endeavors that are produced with consideration for the broader impact of the work and its reception in relationship to its environments (social, economic, biophysical, historical, and cultural).

Recorded Workshops and Tips:

Abstract-Writing Tips and Workshop Recording

Auraria Library Resources on Developing Posters

Auraria Library Resources on Presentations

Auraria Library Resources on Public Speaking

Presentation Resources and Recording of Poster Design Workshop

Templates and Logos:

Free PowerPoint Poster Templates

CU Denver Brand Colors in Correct Poster Dimensions

CU Denver Brand PowerPoint Slides

CU Denver Logos

Presentation Examples:

Symposium Demo Site

RaCAS 2024 Presentations

RaCAS 2022 Event Recap Video

In-Person Presentation on Friday, April 25, 2025:

Oral Presentations will be limited to 12-minutes max with a short Q&A time.

• Presenters will be placed in time slots as groups to present 12-minute talk for RaCAS attendees and reviewers in classroom-style presentations.
• Presenters provide slides to moderator; a computer and projector will be provided.
• In-person presenters must communicate with room moderators and arrive early to load presentations onto common room computers.
• Presenters are responsible for assuring any accommodations are communicated and finalized by April 4, 2025.

• Zoom option available upon request. Virtual presenters will screen-share in a 12-minute presentation over Zoom followed by short Q&A

Online Submission due week before RaCAS, Friday, April 18, 2025:

Slides and 3-minute audio or video summary of your presentation (elevator pitch)

• Presentation upload must be a PDF document of slides or images and cannot exceed 10MB.
  
• All Videos/Audio Files must be uploaded to YouTube as ‘unlisted’ content and submitted as a YouTube link (instructions here)

Resources:

• Crafting an Engaging, Accessible, and “To-the-Point” Online Presentation
• Elevator Pitch Resources and Workshop Recording
• Instructions to Record and Upload Elevator Pitch
• CU Denver Brand PowerPoint Slides
• CU Denver Logos

Presentations on Friday, April 25, 2025:

This is a flexible format to best showcase creative projects.

• If selecting this option, include a paragraph explaining in detail what you will be bringing/installing, and indicate if you need items provided by RaCAS. Include display dimensions if larger than a standard 36" x 48" board.
• Student must provide: laptop, desktop, tablet, or CPU, monitors, projectors, etc.
• RaCAS can provide upon request: cocktail table, 8-ft table, chairs, outlet access, easels and 36" x 48" boards.
• Presenters are responsible for assuring the necessary media exhibit set-up needs are communicated and arrangements must be finalized by April 4, 2025.
• This format will be displayed in the main gym, choose the Oral Presentation type to give a 12-minute talk instead.
• Questions on what you can display/present? Email undergrad.research@ucdenver.edu.
  

• Zoom option available upon request. Virtual presenters will screen-share in a 12-minute presentation over Zoom followed by short Q&A.

Online Submission due week before RaCAS, Friday, April 18, 2025:

Representative image(s), recording, website, etc. and 3-minute audio or video summary of your presentation (elevator pitch)

• Presentation upload can include representative image(s), recording, media files, and supporting links to websites, portfolios, etc.
  
• Files cannot exceed 10MB
  
• All Videos/Audio Files must be uploaded to YouTube as ‘unlisted’ content and submitted as a YouTube link (instructions here)

Resources:

• Crafting an Engaging, Accessible, and “To-the-Point” Online Presentation
• Elevator Pitch Resources and Presentation Workshop Recording
• Instructions to Record and Upload Elevator Pitch
• Free PowerPoint Poster Templates
• CU Denver Brand Colors in 36"x48" Poster Dimensions
• CU Denver Logos