Student Research Days

The 2025 Student Research Days winners have been announced. Congratulations to all who participated!

Important updates: 

  • All applications will now be subject to an adjudication process. Acceptance will be primarily based on the quality of the abstract submitted.

About Student Research Days

Douglas College Student Research Days is an annual event where students showcase their hard work and discoveries from individual or group research projects.

Students can submit work and win a prize in one of three categories.

Research proposal

Apply in this category if you have planned a research project but have not yet collected and analyzed data OR if your project data are primarily secondary in nature, e.g., not data arising from your own original research. This category is appropriate for students who have taken research methods courses whose summative assignment is a research proposal or other research project that does not involve collecting original research data. You will be invited to explain your proposal / secondary research project to the judges. Submissions should take the form of a poster. Posters should measure 48"x36"

Research poster

Apply in this category if you have designed a research project and collected and analyzed data. You will be invited to explain your project and findings to the judges. Submissions should take the form of a poster. Posters should measure 48" x 36".

Research paper

Apply in this category if you have written a research essay. You will be invited to present a fifteen-minute version of your essay in a conference-style panel presentation. 

Prizes in each category:

  1. First place $500
  2. Second place $300
  3. Third place $150

Eligibility

  • Douglas College student at the time that the research was conducted or the proposal prepared. We will be accepting students from the Summer 2024, Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 term.
  • Must be able to present on one of the Student Research Days events.
Judging Criteria

Judging requirements are subject to change.

 

4

3

2

1

Grasp of topic and the research process
  • Poster contains ALL necessary components to convey a complete picture of the proposed study
  • Excellent use of research terminology
  • Conveyed sophisticated understanding of the topic
  • Demonstrated excellent grasp of key research concepts and processes
  • Poster contains enough components to convey a mostly complete picture of the proposed study
  • Good use of research terminology
  • Conveyed good understanding of the topic
  • Demonstrated good grasp of key research concepts and processes
  • Poster contains enough components to convey an adequate picture of the proposed study
  • Adequate use of research terminology
  • Conveyed adequate understanding of the topic
  • Demonstrated adequate grasp of research concepts and processes
  • Poster contains multiple missing components so it is hard to understand the proposed study
  • Poor use of research terminology
  • Conveyed weak understanding of the topic
  • Struggled to convey key research concepts and processes
Poster formatting
  • The poster is compelling, easy to read, and invites the reader through poster colours and formatting 
  • Visuals and graphics effectively communicate key aspects of the research project
  • The poster is well organized and has a logical flow
  • The poster has an appropriate amount of text, is well written with no spelling or grammar errors
  • References are included 
  • The poster is easy to read and invites the reader through poster colours and formatting
  • Visuals and graphics are mostly effective in communicating key aspects of the research project
  • Some adjustments to the formatting are recommended
  • The poster is mostly well organized and has a logical flow
  • Text on the poster is mostly clearly conveyed
  • Some grammar or spelling mistakes
  • The poster is somewhat hard to read or somewhat uninviting
  • Visuals and graphics are not effective in communicating key aspects of the research project
  • There are notable formatting problems
  • The poster is disorganized or is difficult to follow
  • Text on the poster lacks clarity in some places
  • Frequent grammar or spelling mistakes
  • References are not included
  • The poster is very hard to read and uninviting
  • Visuals and graphics are unrelated to the research project
  • Poster formatting requires significant revisions
  • The poster is disorganized or is difficult to follow
  • Text on the poster lacks clarity in many places
  • Multiple grammar or spelling mistakes
  • References are not included
Presentation style
  • Presented engagingly, articulately, and with enthusiasm
  • Conveyed relevance of research topic to interdisciplinary audience
  • The ‘so what’ of the study is clear and compelling
  • Maintained eye contact
  • Presentation style was effective, clear, and engaging
  • Conveyed relevance of research topic to interdisciplinary audience
  • Maintained eye contact
  • Presentation style was at times effective, clear, and engaging
  • Struggled to convey relevance of research topic to interdisciplinary audience
  • Intermittent eye contact
  • Presentation style lacked clarity and was difficult to follow
  • Little to no eye contact

 

4

3

2

1

Presentation content (grasp of topic and research concepts) 
  • Excellent use of research terminology
  • Conveyed sophisticated understanding of the topic
  • Demonstrated excellent grasp of key research concepts and processes
  • Good use of research terminology 
  • Conveyed good understanding of the topic
  • Demonstrated good grasp of key research concepts and processes
  • Presentation style was at times clear, effective, and engaging 
  • Struggled to convey relevance of research topic to interdisciplinary audience
  • Intermittent eye contact
  • Poor use of research terminology 
  • Conveyed weak understanding of the topic
  • Struggled to convey key research concepts and processes
Presentation style
  • Presented engagingly, articulately, and with enthusiasm
  • Conveyed relevance of research topic to interdisciplinary audience
  • The “so what” of the study is clear and compelling
  • Maintained eye contact
  • Presentation style was clear, effective, and engaging 
  • Conveyed relevance of research topic to interdisciplinary audience
  • Maintained eye contact
  • Adequate use of research terminology 
  • Conveyed adequate understanding of the topic
  • Demonstrated adequate grasp of key research concepts and processes
     
  • Presentation style lacked enthusiasm
  • Did not reach an interdisciplinary audience
  • Little or no eye contact
Poster formatting
  • Poster colours, formatting, and use of visuals and graphics effectively conveys the research project
  • The poster is well organized and has logical flow 
  • Poster colours, formatting, and use of visuals and graphics effectively are mostly effective
  • Some adjustments to the formatting are recommended
  • The poster is well organized and has a logical flow 
  • Poster formatting requires revisions
  • The poster is disorganized or is difficult to follow
  • Poster formatting requires significant revisions
  • The poster is disorganized or is difficult to follow
Poster content
  • The poster has an appropriate amount of text, is well written with no spelling or grammar errors
  • All components of the research study are included
  • References are included 
  • Text on the poster is mostly clearly conveyed
  • All necessary components of the research study are provided
  • Some grammar or spelling mistakes 
  • References are included 
  • Text on the poster lacks clarity 
  • Some components of the research study are missing
  • There are some grammar or spelling mistakes and/or references are not included 
  • Text on the poster cannot be understood
  • References are not included 

Judging requirements are subject to change.

 

4

3

2

1

Presentation style
  • Presentation style was effective, clear, engaging, and delivered with enthusiasm
  • Maintained eye contact
  • Presentation style was effective, clear, and engaging
  • Maintained eye contact
  • Presentation style was at times effective, clear, and engaging
  • Intermittent eye contact
  • Presentation style lacked clarity and was difficult to follow
  • Little to no eye contact
Originality and exigency of project
  • Conveyed relevance of research topic to an interdisciplinary audience
  • The “so what” of the study was clear and compelling
  • Conveyed relevance of research topic to interdisciplinary audience
  • The “so what” of the study was apparent
  • Struggled to convey relevance of research topic to interdisciplinary audience
  • Did not reach an interdisciplinary audience
Content of research essay
  • Used appropriate methodology according to discipline 
  • Presented a compelling argument and developed it persuasively with reference to relevant evidence and sophisticated analysis
  • Conveyed wider significance of findings
  • Used appropriate methodology according to discipline 
  • Presented an argument and developed it with reference to evidence and analysis
  • Conveyed significance of findings
  • Methodology was not clearly suited to the research project
  • Aspects of an argument were supported by some evidence and analysis 
  • Did not convey significance of findings
  • Methodology was unclear
  • Little detectable argument
  • Did not convey significance of findings

Timeline

Step 1. Apply and submit your abstract by March 17, 2025.  

Step 2. Receive a notification of results on March 19, 2025.  

Step 3. Submit your DOOR Licence and Submission agreement to door@douglascollege.ca (every member of your group is required to sign) by March 21, 2025. 

Step 4. Submit your final project: 

  • For a Research Proposal or Research Poster that you would like printed by us, use the link provided in your results email (don't forget to remove your student ID number) by March 21, 2025. 

  • For a Research Proposal or Research Poster that you will print yourself, use the link provided in your results email (don't forget to remove your student ID number) to provide a digital copy by April 4, 2025. 

  • For a Research Paper, use the link provided in your results email (don't forget to remove your student ID number) by April 4, 2025.

Step 5. Join us on the event day – April 8, 2025 (Coquitlam), April 10, 2025 (New Westminster).  

Step 6. Find the final results on the Douglas College Website.  

Research poster “How-to” guides

For help with planning, organizing and designing your research poster, visit the the link to our own DC guide to student research posters: Library’s Student Research Posters Presentation guide.

Other useful guides include:

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact Student Life Coordinator.
Contact us

2025 Winners

Posters: 

  1. Sophia Wong, Psychology – AI-Powered CBT: Investigating the Impact of Voice-Based Generative AI on Reframing Anxious Thoughts  
  2. Namesh Mathara Arachchi Vidanalage, Computing Studies & Information Systems – An Automated Product Inquiry Response System for Light Recycling Program
  3. Berntina Hambly, Interdisciplinary Science – A Microbial Perspective: Exploring the Impacts of Invasive Himalayan Blackberry on Soil Bacterial Diversity in Temperate Rainforests

Proposals: 

  1. Neda Samarbaf-Zadeh, Social Work – Are BC’s settlement service agencies meeting the needs of Middle Eastern refugees?
  2. Khanh Nguyen and Sophie Hoang, Health Information Management – Awareness and Understanding of Indigenous Peoples: A Study of Douglas College International Students
  3. Simran Vanjara, Sociology – From Farm to Fork: Sustainable Plant-Based Eating

Paper Panel: 

  1. Eve Green, Child and Youth Care – Addressing Anti-Black Racism in Child and Youth Care Education  
  2. Elton Henrique de Oliveira Evangelista, Computing Studies & Information Systems – AI on the Road: The Role of Video-Capturing Technology in Improving Driver Safety and Accident Prevention.
  3. Alanna Stockford, History – The Frailty of Justice: An Academic and Personal Reflection on Markus Kreitmair’s In Fear of the Frail: The Treatment of the Disabled at the Eichberg Asylum for the Mentally Ill in Nazi Germany 

Read more about the 2024 winners on the Douglas College 360 Blog!

Read more!