2008 TxGSRS Program

Mission - Directions - Parking
Door Prizes - Resources - FAQ

Location:

Evans Liberal Arts Building, 3^rd Floor
Texas State University
San Marcos, Texas

Plenary Speaker:

Dr. Todd Votteler
Executive Director Guadalupe-Blanco River Trust
Click here to learn more about Dr. Votteler, or try the link below for Plenary topic details.
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the Edwards Aquifer Dispute

Plenary Session:

Evans Liberal Arts 116

Panel Sessions:

Schedule:

Program:

Download the 2008 Program in PDF Format.

Mission & Background:

Too often, graduate students are so consumed with coursework and theses that very little is known about the research being conducted by their peers.  National and international conferences, such as the AAG Annual Meeting, tend to be hectic, and provide little time for students from the same University to share and explore their research together.  The more intimate nature of the TxGSRS facilitates this opportunity for graduate students while also exposing undergraduate students, who may not ordinarily be able to attend an AAG Meeting, to the active field of geographic research.

The Texas Geography Student Research Symposium is a student-led professional mini-conference designed to celebrate and encourage Geography students, both graduate and undergraduate, to conduct high quality research.  The event provides a forum for graduate students to share their interests with peers and faculty and to cultivate broader and stronger research interests in undergraduate students.

The event is comprised of paper and poster presentations, panel discussions, and a plenary session.  Refreshments are provided and door prizes are awarded at the end of the plenary session.

The first Geography Student Research Symposium, held in 2004, was designed for the students of Texas State University, and Dick Nostrand, University of Oklahoma, joined us as our plenary speaker.  For our second event, we invited Daniel Sui, Texas A&M University, to speak at our plenary session.

At the conclusion of last year’s event, the committee’s vision for the event began to expand.  Conversations over dinner with Dr. Sui and the student committee revealed an interest to expand the event to include Geography students from Dr. Sui’s department at Texas A&M and from Geography Departments around the state.  Since then, we’ve developed a partnership with Texas A&M and UT to sponsor the event and rotate hosting.

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The event is organized and facilitated by a committee of students representing each degree program - Undergraduate, Master’s, and Doctoral.  The committee has been able to successfully combine their contributions of time with financial support from the Department of Geography for the past two years. 

Satellite steering committees have been established at Texas A&M and UT to promote, and eventually host, the TxGSRS.

And so what was once the Geography Student Research Symposium has evolved into the TEXAS Geography Student Research Symposium (TxGSRS).  Texas State is excited to host our first expanded event and hopes that you’ll join us in April!

If you have any questions, please feel free to send us an e-mail at gsrs@geo.txstate.edu

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2008 TxGSRS Texas State Steering Committee

Lara Bryant		Co-Chair (Graduate)
Keya Howard		Co-Chair (Undergraduate)
Edris Montalvo		Doctoral Representative
Susan Peters		Doctoral Representative
Waverly Ray		Doctoral Representative
Tara Noah		Undergraduate Representative
Kristina Tower		Undergraduate Representative
Marques Green		Recording Secretary
Matthew Connolly		Webmaster
Lawrence Estaville		Faculty Advisor

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Approximate Physical Address:

Department of Geography
Evans Liberal Arts Building
699 North LBJ Drive
San Marcos, TX 78666

Link to Google Local Maps

Link to Google Earth Map
(Must have Google Earth Installed on Your Computer)

(29 53'18.6"N, 97 56'31.4"W)

Parking is available in the LBJ Student Center Parking Garage.
Click HERE for a Map!

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Never presented at a conference before and need some tips?
Check out this link for some quick presentation DOs & DONTs.

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2008 TxGSRS Event Flyer

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is an abstract?

An abstract is a brief summary statement that gives the reader the essential information about the research.  The writer should include the objective(s), research question(s), the methods used, and results or conclusions of the research project.  Your abstract should, in general, not exceed 250 words.

How long are the presentations?

Paper presentations are designed to last 15 minutes with a 5 minute question-and-answer period at the end.  It is important that presenters and sessions chairs monitor the length of the presentations to maintain our tight schedule.  Any time a presenter uses beyond their allotted 15 minutes will be deducted from the 5 minute question-and-answer period.  Panel sessions will last no longer than 50 minutes and the formal poster sessions will last approximately 1 hour; although the posters may remain posted for the remainder of the symposium.

Is there a questions and answer portion of the presentation?

Yes, each 15 minute paper presentation will be followed by a brief 5 minute question-and-answer period.  However, this period may be shortened if the session is running long.

What presentation resources will be available?

Each session room is equipped with an LCD Projector and PC Workstation with Windows XP, internet access, and USB access on the monitor.  There will be no CD-ROM access to these presentation computers, so you must bring your PPT presentation on a USB key or thumb drive. Presenters bringing a laptop for their presentations may connect to the LCD projector with a standard VGA connection available on the podium. Presenters without a USB thumb drive or laptop computer, but wanting to use a PowerPoint presentation, should arrange to use a laptop from another presenter in the session.  Please send an email to gsrs@geo.txstate.edu if your presentation requires a slide of overhead projector or if you need contact information for your session chair to arrange use of a laptop.

Although computer equipment is available for use, participants are strongly encouraged to prepare multiple formats in case of technical malfunction.  If you would like further information or would like additional information regarding available equipment, email the TxGSRS at txgsrs@geo.txstate.edu

Is there a conference fee?

No, there is no conference fee.

Who’s in the audience?

Many different people will be attending the TxGSRS!  Here is a sample of who will be attending:

• Students just like you!
• Faculty and students from 3 major geography programs:
  • University of Texas, Austin
  • Texas A&M, College Station
  • Texas State University, San Marcos
• Urban Planners
• Environmental Professionals
• Transportation Planners
• Faculty and students from other disciplines (CIS, Anthropology, Sociology, etc.)
• City government officials
• Local citizens

What is my responsibility as a faculty member sponsoring an undergraduate presentation?

Your responsibility is to review the presentation of your undergraduate student and, using your own conference and presentation experiences, and ensure that the presentation is of conference-level quality.  Students of all skill levels are encouraged to present posters and papers!  Even if your research project is not completed, presenting at the TxGSRS can provide an opportunity for some extremely valuable feedback. You may want to share with your student a little bit about the “conference atmosphere” and explain proper etiquette for moving between sessions.   

What is appropriate conference/symposium etiquette?

The most important this to remember is that when a speaker is presenting a paper, the audience is encouraged to hold all questions until the end of the presentation.   If you would like to leave prior to the speaker completing the talk, you may do so.  Be sure to exit quietly (and close the door softly). 

What are the maximum/minimum dimensions for a poster?

5 Feet Wide x 3 Feet Tall. Tacks will be provided.

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Web site Last Updated:

Thursday April 3, 2008