ORONO — Whether it's an invention, experiment, video, musical performance or literary analysis, University of Maine students will showcase their work and talent during the UMaine Student Symposium for Research and Creative Activity on April 17, at the New Balance Field House.

Nearly 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students will present posters, oral presentations, exhibits, and performances showcasing research and creative work completed over the past academic year. Volunteer judges will help decide which students rise to the top in 10 undergraduate and graduate presentation categories.  

Serving as a judge is a rewarding experience, says Maureen Teixeira, a retired elementary school teacher who volunteered for the first time last year. "The students I spoke with were passionate and creative. As someone who spent my career working with young people, it was a joy to mentor and exchange ideas with learners again. It was such a rewarding way to spend the day!" she said.

Her husband, Dave Teixeira, a U.S. Air Force veteran who also judged at the 2025 event, said he was impressed by the students' work. "Being in the room with so many driven young adults makes me optimistic about Maine's future. I'd encourage anyone with a few hours to spare to come see it for themselves," he said.

The symposium is free and open to the public and offers multiple ways to participate: attend presentations, volunteer as a judge, connect with emerging talent and donate food to support local community pantries. Attendees should register in advance online. 

Now in its 11th year, the symposium reflects the momentum of research and scholarship at UMaine. The learner-centered R1 welcomes students into its culture of discovery. On average, one-third of undergraduate students participate in research-based learning. At the graduate level, doctoral enrollment reached an all-time high this year, marking a 24% increase since 2020. 

“Events like the UMaine Student Symposium demonstrate the university’s commitment to helping students not only learn existing knowledge, but actively advance discovery along the way,” said Giovanna Guidoboni, interim vice president for research and dean of the Maine College of Engineering and Computing. “The Symposium embodies the learner-centered R1 experience, where students work alongside faculty mentors to ask meaningful questions, create new knowledge and share it with the world.”

The event regularly draws thousands of members of the public, offering a rare opportunity to engage directly with the innovators and visionaries shaping Maine’s future. Employers are also encouraged to attend and meet emerging talent across disciplines.

Volunteer as a judge

Community members, professionals, alumni and employers are invited to volunteer as judges. People of all backgrounds are welcome and no prior judging experience is required. The opportunity for students to present their ideas to people from different walks of life provides valuable experience they will need as they enter the workforce. 

Support your community

In addition to celebrating student achievement, the symposium will host a food drive benefiting local community pantries and nonprofit organizations like Sarah’s House of Maine. Attendees are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items to help support neighbors in need.

Event schedule highlights

• At 8 a.m., the doors open.

• At 9 a.m., there will be opening remarks by UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy and Giovanna Guidoboni, UMaine’s interim vice president for research and dean of the Maine College of Engineering and Computing.

• From 9:30 a.m.–noon, there will be poster, oral, and exhibit presentations from:

• Undergraduate students showcasing work in Physical and Mathematical Sciences; Business; Education; Allied Health; and Engineering.

• Graduate students working the Arts; Social Sciences and Humanities; Natural Sciences; Interdisciplinary Research and Biomedical Sciences.

• From 10–11 a.m., there will be musical presentations in Minsky Recital Hall.

• From 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m., there will be poster, oral, and exhibit presentations from:

• Undergraduate students featuring their work in the Arts; Social Sciences and Humanities; Natural Sciences; Interdisciplinary Research and Biomedical Sciences.

• Graduate students working in the Physical and Mathematical Sciences; Business; Education; Allied Health and Engineering fields.

• From 1:30–2:30 p.m., there will be graduate and undergraduate student panels.

• At 2:30 p.m., there will be an awards ceremony and closing remarks.

Learn more and register

Advance registration is required for attendance and volunteering. Full details, including registration and judging sign-ups, are available online.

Whether you come to be inspired, to support students, to volunteer your expertise, or to give back through the food drive, the 2026 University of Maine Student Symposium offers a powerful window into the creativity, curiosity and impact of UMaine students.

About the University of Maine: As Maine’s only public research university and a Carnegie R1 top-tier research institution, the University of Maine advances learning and discovery through excellence and innovation. Founded in 1865 in Orono, UMaine is the state’s land, sea and space grant university with a regional campus at the University of Maine at Machias. Our students come from all over the world and work with faculty conducting fieldwork around the globe — from the North Atlantic to the Antarctic. Located on Marsh Island in the homeland of the Penobscot Nation with UMaine Machias located in the homeland of the Passamaquoddy Nation, UMaine’s statewide mission is to foster an environment that creates tomorrow’s leaders. As the state’s flagship institution, UMaine offers nearly 200 degree programs through which students can earn bachelor’s, master’s, professional master’s and doctoral degrees as well as graduate certificates. For more information about UMaine and UMaine Machias, visit umaine.edu/about/quick-facts/ and machias.edu/about-umm/umm-facts/.