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The first and second floors of Hodges Library buzzed with energy on Tuesday, Sept. 23, as students and faculty filled the halls for Discovery Day, the University of Tennessee’s annual celebration of undergraduate research projects.
The event, held each fall, gives students the chance to present posters and explain their work directly to visitors, sparking dialogue between undergraduate students and faculty. From health science and mechanical engineering to music, the projects reflect the diversity of academic interests at UT.
For junior Elizabeth Cathey, the day was about more than just displaying the results of her research in food science — it was about connecting her work with a larger community.
”It’s really cool to see all the different kinds of research people are doing. I get kind of caught up in my STEM bubble and I forget that people are doing really cool things in humanities and like all these different fields that I don’t even associate research with,” Cathey said. “It makes me really excited to be a student here, seeing all the work that’s happening.”
For attendees, Discovery Day offers more than just a chance to walk through rows of posters.
Freshman Savana Hunt said the event opened her eyes to the breadth of research happening across campus and made her feel more confident in her choice to study biology.
”I came so I can feel confident in the major that I’m choosing, just to really experiment if I’m going to stick with it,” Hunt said. “Talking to some people, they really seem like they love what they’re doing, so that made me confident, like maybe I can l really love what I’m doing.”
Students are not the only ones who gain new perspectives at Discovery Day. Faculty who attended the event said that they appreciated the chance to see how younger scholars are interacting in their chosen fields.
Dusty Prater, a PhD student in ecology and evolutionary biology, who stopped by to support one of his students said he found himself drawn to projects beyond his field.
“It’s really nice to see the diversity of different research,” Prater said. “I would say people should just show up. Look at the posters, listen to the pitches and ask questions if you have anything that you’re curious about.”
Meredith Malburne-Wade, director of undergraduate research, fellowships and service learning, says that by highlighting student research and creativity, Discovery Day not only celebrates the accomplishments of undergraduates but also encourages future involvement in scholarly projects.
”It’s a great way for students to figure out if they’re interested in research that’s happening all around,” Malburne-Wade said. “They can talk to the student researchers about their experiences, then get a feel for what research means in all the different disciplines.”
Beyond the posters and presentations, Discovery Day serves as a reminder of the university’s emphasis on experiential learning, highlighting the impact of undergraduate research not only on academic development, but also on students’ confidence, curiosity and ability to connect their classroom work to larger questions.
As the afternoon wrapped up, posters came down and conversations wound to a close, but the impact of Discovery Day lingers. By bringing together students, faculty and staff, the event celebrates the diverse and innovative work being done across campus while encouraging new voices to join in the pursuit of knowledge.