Laurier to highlight undergraduate research during annual Brantford ACERS showcase

March 1, 2023
For Immediate Release

BRANTFORD – Wilfrid Laurier University invites faculty, staff, students and the public to the annual Academic, Creative and Engaged Research Showcase (ACERS) award ceremony on March 10 to discover student research beyond the classroom.

ACERS at Laurier’s Brantford campus celebrates creative undergraduate student projects across disciplines and highlights the importance of research in professional careers. The seventh annual showcase will provide an opportunity for undergraduate students to present their work in a variety of formats to peers in the Laurier community, as well as the wider community.

Undergraduate research projects in three categories – poster, video and podcast – will be available for viewing and streaming online starting March 3 and in person on March 10 at 11 a.m. An award ceremony will take place on March 10 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the lower level of One Market, where participants will vie for $5,000 in prize money.

“Laurier Brantford students undertake exciting work in their undergraduate studies that explores questions and issues they are passionate about,” says Anh Ngo, assistant professor in the Faculty of Social Work and co-chair of the ACERS 2023 committee. “Often, this work is informed by students' community engagement outside of the classroom – through their lived experiences, field education and community service-learning opportunities. ACERS supports students to take their work beyond the classroom in a public showcase that promotes engaged research and scholarship among the Laurier community and the public.”

Attendees at the March 10 award ceremony can take part in an ACERS bingo competition by reviewing projects during the ceremony for a chance to win a Ninja air fryer or an Instax camera prize pack. This year’s ACERS is chaired by Ngo and Melissa Weaver, academic program administrator of the Bachelor of Social Work program at Laurier.

Three submissions, one in each category, will receive the grand prize of $1,000. Second and third place recipients will receive $750 and $500 respectively. Four submissions will receive honourable mention prizes at $150 each and the Early Year Researcher Award grants $150 to a submission by a first- or second-year student. ACERS is generously funded by the Race family.

For more information visit wlu.ca/acers or email acers@wlu.ca.