Registration Now Open for BCNM's First Undergraduate Research Symposium on September 14
BCNM is pleased to present its first ever Undergraduate Research Symposium, organized and hosted by New Media Working Group coordinators Alexis Wood and Chloé Mauvais. It will take place on Monday, September 14, 2026, from 9am to 1pm in Jarvis Auditorium at the Grimes Engineering Center.
> Apply to be a presenter today! (Deadline September 2)
> Register for the symposium as an observer! (Register by September 9 if you will be attending lunch)
The Berkeley Center for New Media (BCNM) invites our undergraduate students to submit presentation proposals for the 2026 BCNM Undergraduate Research Symposium.
The symposium offers students an opportunity to share original research, creative projects, and works in progress with an audience of fellow students, graduate researchers, faculty, and members of the broader BCNM community. In addition to student presentations, the event will include a networking lunch and a panel on graduate school and career pathways.
Selected presenters will gain experience communicating their work to an interdisciplinary audience, receive guidance as they prepare their presentations, and connect with people working at the intersections of new media, technology, design, the arts, and the humanities.
All students, staff, and faculty are welcome and encouraged to attend the symposium as observers.
What kinds of projects are eligible?
We welcome research and creative work related to BCNM’s core areas of inquiry, including media transition and emergence, critical thinking and making, and technological equity and justice.
Possible topics and formats include, but are not limited to:
- Social media, online communities, and digital culture
- Games, interactive media, virtual reality, and immersive storytelling
- Digital art, design, performance, and creative technologies
- Critical approaches to data, mapping, archives, or visualization
- Technology, identity, accessibility, equity, or social justice
- The social and cultural effects of emerging technologies
- Making, prototyping, or practice-based research
- Artificial intelligence, algorithms, and digital platforms
Projects may come from coursework, independent research, honors theses, internships, creative practice, or collaborative work. Both completed projects and substantial works in progress are welcome.
Students enrolled in the BCNM Certificate Program, or intending to enroll in the program, will be given a strong preference.
Presentation format
Presentations should be approximately 10–15 minutes long and will be followed by a brief audience Q&A. Presentations may include slides, demonstrations, videos, and/or performances.
Selected presenters will be required to attend a virtual pre-symposium preparation meeting on Zoom the week prior to the symposium. During this session, participants will confirm their topic, presentation length, technical needs, and format and will receive guidance on preparing an engaging presentation for an interdisciplinary audience.
Symposium schedule
9:00–10:00 a.m. | Coffee and Welcome
Raw Thrills Lounge and Lobby
10:00–11:00 a.m. | Undergraduate Presentations and Q&A
Jarvis Auditorium
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | Networking Lunch
Raw Thrills Lounge and Lobby
Participants will join guided conversations with students, faculty, graduate researchers, and other members of the BCNM community.
12:00–1:00 p.m. | Graduate School and Career Panel
Jarvis Auditorium
Panelists will discuss graduate study, professional pathways, and opportunities for students interested in new media and related fields.
How to apply
Please submit a brief proposal through this form. You will be asked for the following information:
- Your name, major, year, and a short bio
- A working title for your presentation
- A short description of your project and its connection to new media
- Your preferred presentation format and any anticipated technical needs
- The name of any collaborators or supervisors, if applicable
The deadline to submit proposals is September 2, 2026.
Attending as an observer
All students, staff, and faculty are welcome and encouraged to attend the symposium as observers. Register for the symposium as a non-presenter! Please register by September 9 if you plan on attending the lunch portion of the day.
Contact
Questions about the symposium or application? Contact New Media Working Group coordinators Chloé Mauvais (chloe.mauvais [at] berkeley.edu) and Alexis Wood (aew78 [at] berkeley.edu).
Questions about BCNM? Contact Associate Director Aaron Fai (afai [at] berkeley.edu).