The workshops and events outlined below are designed to complement and enhance the undergraduate summer research experience. With an emphasis on professional development and science communication (scicomm), this series provides students with opportunities to develop essential skills, engage with a broad academic community, and explore potential pathways in research and beyond.

Together, these sessions foster a collaborative and intellectually enriching environment that supports both personal and academic growth throughout the summer. For more information, please contact Jim Lemire, RI-NEST SURF Coordinator (jlemire@rwu.edu) 

May 26, 2026: RI Summer Research Kick-off & Orientation (9:30am – 2pm, URI-Kingston)
This annual event brings together more than 100 undergraduate researchers from across a range of summer programs to celebrate the start of the summer research season. The program begins with a warm welcome from faculty and program leaders, who share their excitement and set the tone for a productive and inspiring summer. A highlight of the event is the student alumni panel, where past participants reflect on their experiences and offer practical advice to new students – followed by a lively Q&A. After connecting over a casual pizza lunch with refreshments, participants break out into smaller groups for program-specific orientations to review expectations, logistics, and opportunities tailored to each group. Designed to build community and foster early engagement, this event sets the stage for a meaningful and successful research experience. 

June 11, 2026: Using Augmented Reality for Science Communication (9am – 12pm, light snacks provided) Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering, Room 040, URI-Kingston

Madison Jones (Writing & Rhetoric and Natural Resources Science, URI) 
In this hands-on, interactive workshop, participants will learn how to create immersive digital scicomm experiences. This workshop will cover using Polycam to create accurate, engaging 3D models using both LiDAR scanning and photogrammetry techniques. It will also demonstrate how to create holographic video using a simple green screen and a cell phone camera. Attendees will then explore how to share these digital models as immersive Augmented Reality (AR) experiences using Adobe Aero and Hoverlay. Designed for practical application, the workshop focuses on environmental communication and scientific documentation. Participants will leave equipped to use these accessible digital tools effectively in scicomm education, outreach, and research contexts. 

June 17, 2026: Science in Six Words (9am – 12pm, light snacks provided) Roger Williams University, Law School Bay View Room, Bristol, RI

Brian Wysor (School of Social & Natural Sciences, RWU) 
This interactive workshop invites students to hone their science communication skills by distilling complex research topics into clear, concise messages. Through a series of iterative exercises, participants will practice articulating the core ideas of their work in increasingly focused formats, ultimately working toward a succinct, six-word description. Emphasizing clarity, accessibility, and creativity, this session offers a fresh approach to crafting compelling summaries of scientific research for broader audiences. Students will leave with new tools for communicating their work in ways that are engaging, memorable, and easily understood. 

June 26, 2026: Mid-summer Meet-up (9:30am – 1pm, lunch provided) Beaupre Center for Chemical & Forensic Sciences, Room 100, URI-Kingston

This special mid-summer gathering brings together SURF students for a day of connection, reflection, and inspiration. The event will begin with a graduate school info session and Q&A, offering practical insights and advice on the application process, program selection, and what to expect in advanced study. Next, two invited keynote speakers will share their personal research journeys, highlighting how their paths have evolved over time and the diverse ways careers in science and scholarship can unfold. The afternoon will wrap up with a casual lunch, providing time to relax, chat, and connect with peers across disciplines. 

July 8, 2026: Connecting Science & Community through Journalism (9am – 12pm, light snacks provided) Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering, Room 040, URI-Kingston

Shaun Kirby (RI Network for Excellence in Science & Technology, URI) 
Do you think about how your research will be received? Where does it fit in the greater conversation around science, knowledge and society? Who should know about your research, and why? Shaun Kirby, Communications & Outreach Coordinator for RI NEST and a former community news reporter & editor, helps students explore how to think about their research as a journalist, considering the wider impacts of their work and important stories around their summer experiences with which outside audiences might connect. 

July 15, 2026: Graphic Design, Visual Communication, and Scientific Posters (10:30am – 1:30pm, light snacks provided) Edna Lawrence Nature Lab, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI

Georgia Rhodes (Nature Lab, RISD) 
This workshop is designed to introduce multiple ways of implementing art and design practices into the visual communication of your research such as poster design, presentations, and process documentation. The group will be discussing techniques and resources for integrating color theory, compositional strategies, and software for design and image manipulation as well as provide opportunities to experiment with Nature Lab visualization equipment. This hands-on session will end with a community discussion (critique) of materials created during the workshop and/or visual products brought to the group 

July 31, 2026: Rhode Island Summer Research Symposium (8am – 1pm, Continental breakfast & refreshments provided) University of Rhode Island

The culminating event of the summer, the RI Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium brings together over 100 student researchers from a range of statewide summer programs to present their work to the broader community. Each student shares their research through a formal poster presentation, offering insights into the questions they’ve explored and the discoveries they’ve made. With more than 300 attendees, including faculty, administrators, peers, friends, and family, the symposium serves as both a celebration and showcase of student achievement. As the bookend to the summer research experience, this annual event highlights the diversity, rigor, and creativity of undergraduate research across Rhode Island.