Our Crowdfunding Groups
You've reached your initial goal. Is your campaign still accepting donations?
Yes! Any additional funds we receive past the initial $2000 will be paid into the Stupka symposium foundation fund. This fund will support future symposia, especially the 15th Stupka Symposium in April 2020. This is an excellent opportunity to support Stupka long-term!
What is the Stupka Symposium?
The Stupka Undergraduate Research Symposium came from the mind of Robert "Rob" J. Stupka III (picture to the right), an undergraduate student, in the fall of 2005. He and his fellow classmates worked to turn this idea into a reality; however, Rob would not see the symposium he worked so fervently to plan. On November 30, 2005, his life ended after a pedestrian vehicle accident in front of the Molecular Biology Building. Rob envisioned the symposium to be an opportunity for undergraduate students to showcase their research and experience the need for communication in science. Rob's contagious enthusiasm drove his classmates to hold the first symposium in the spring of 2006; the enthusiasm has never gone away. Undergraduates, inspired by Rob's vision and story, have continued to lead and plan 12 consecutive, annual symposia.
Each year, the undergraduates who plan the symposium do their best to leave their legacy on this tradition and fulfill Rob's vision. At the symposium, around 40 undergraduate students are given the opportunity to present a poster showcasing their research, and several students are chosen to present their research in a keynote presentation. Additionally, the planning committee chooses two scientists from across the country and one alumni to verbally present their research. The symposium has evolved to give undergraduate students the most opportunities to interact with each other and the invited speakers to discuss science- this happens through a day filled with open-house poster sessions and a candid breakfast and lunch. With each symposium, we see a rise in attendance; last year, we had nearly 200 students, faculty, and other scientists join us.
Why should I donate?
You're reading this because we need your help. One of our greatest (both in priority and cost) expenses is associated with our outside speakers. We pay for their travel, hotel, and food costs - this comes to about $2,000 for our speakers. The speakers give all attendees, especially undergraduate students, unique opportunities and experiences: an opportunity to learn about other topics in biochemistry that they normally wouldn't hear about in class or in their own labs, a chance to personally speak with the speakers, and to experience the environment of a professional conference. The 2018 Symposium will feature speakers Dr. Douglas B. Weibel, a Professor of Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, and Dr. Virginia A. Zakian, the Harry C. Wiess Professor of Life Sciences in the Department of Molecular Biology at Princeton University. Thank you for your consideration for supporting this symposium!
If you would like to know more about us, please visit our website: https://stupka.bb.iastate.edu/. Feel free to contact anyone under the "Project Owners" section on this page- if you click on one of our pictures, you will see our email addresses.
