This year, the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Fair will be held in conjunction with the Admitted Student Event. The event will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2026, as we celebrate student engagement and achievement at Penn State Altoona.

This combined event brings together a wide audience and offers opportunities to share and receive feedback, network, and connect with members of our campus and broader community. While elements of the two programs will take place simultaneously, both events are designed to complement one another and highlight our college's vibrant academic and creative culture.

Penn State Altoona is proud of its longstanding tradition of undergraduate participation in research and creative endeavors. The 24th Annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Fair celebrates the outstanding achievements of our students in the humanities, social sciences, sciences, engineering, and the arts.

We look forward to welcoming students, families, faculty, and staff for a day of discovery, creativity, and connection. Additional details about the day’s schedule and activities are available in the event agenda.

About the Fair

The Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Fair (URCAF) is a showcase of the amazing work Penn State students are doing through independent research, mentored projects, internships, course-based research experiences, and creative or artistic endeavors. Students present their work in a variety of formats, including poster sessions, oral presentations, performances, and exhibitions.

All student presentations are eligible for disciplinary awards, as well as special recognition such as the Community and Belonging and Lion's Pride Awards. Students submitting abstracts can also choose to compete for the University Libraries Undergraduate Research Award, which honors projects that make excellent use of library and research resources.

The fair is a chance for students to share their discoveries, creative projects, and innovative ideas with the Penn State community and the public.

Submissions in the following categories will be accepted until March 18, 2026.

  • Arts and Humanities
  • Behavioral Sciences
  • Business
  • Computing/Information Technology
  • Engineering
  • Environmental Studies
  • Health and Life Sciences
  • Internships
  • Mathematics
  • Nursing
  • Physical Sciences
  • Social Sciences
  • Sustainability
  • Visual and Performing Arts

Guidelines and How to Submit:

Penn State University Libraries Undergraduate Research Award

The University Libraries support undergraduate research by providing access to academic journals, books, and other scholarly resources students need to succeed. This award recognizes outstanding undergraduate research projects that make effective and thoughtful use of library resources.

Projects will be evaluated based on how well students demonstrate strong information literacy skills, such as finding, evaluating, and using credible sources to support their research.

Community and Belonging Award

Penn State is committed to fostering equity, respect, and belonging in research. This award recognizes student projects that address diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, including research that explores disparities affecting different communities.

In this context, "community" refers to groups connected by shared identities, lived experiences, or social conditions. Projects may focus on campus, local, or broader communities and examine issues of access, representation, inclusion, or belonging.

For more information, contact Lisa Emili, Director of Honors and Undergraduate Research, at [email protected].