Friday, April 17, 2026
Abromson Center – 8:30am – 4:30pm
Whether in a classroom, a lab or a studio, innovative research and creative work are the heart of any dynamic university. At the University of Southern Maine, the Thinking Matters symposium reflects student and faculty collaborations across the USM campuses and beyond, which promotes high quality student–faculty research. Thinking Matters is a one-day event that allows students and faculty to share their work with each other, their colleagues, and the general public.
Frequently Asked Questions
A: Thinking Matters is designed specifically to showcase student-faculty collaborations and provide a supportive environment for you to share your work. By presenting, you gain valuable experience in public speaking and professional communication, whether through a poster session or an oral presentation. Additionally, you can upload your work to Digital Commons, USM’s open-access repository. This provides you with a permanent, professional link to your research that you can share with potential employers or graduate schools to bolster your resume and e-portfolio.
A: It is an opportunity to experience exciting new research and scholarship that is taking place by students and faculty at USM. Network with USM students and faculty involved in research at USM.
- For Faculty/Staff: It is a prime opportunity to support your students’ academic growth, discover cross-departmental collaborations, and volunteer as an abstract reviewer or session moderator to help guide the next generation of researchers.
- For Community Members: The symposium is open to the general public, offering a front-row seat to how USM students are tackling real-world challenges—from climate change to public health—that directly impact the Maine community and beyond. It’s a unique space to network with emerging talent and see the practical application of university scholarship.
A: Yes! Scholarship is an ongoing process. Projects that are ongoing or incomplete are welcomed. However, preliminary results of an ongoing project should have substantive content to report out.
A: To apply for the Thinking Matters symposium, students must submit a 300-400 word abstract of their research or creative project via the official Google Form by the submission deadline. You should work with a faculty mentor to review your work and choose between an oral presentation or a poster format. After submission, you will receive an email to access a Google Doc where you can view reviewer feedback and make final edits to your proposal.
A: You will receive an email from Thinking Matters indicating whether your abstract has been (1) accepted, (2) accepted with edits, or to (3) revise and resubmit.
Time |
Session |
Location |
|
8:30am-9:00am |
Registration & Breakfast |
Abromson Center Lobby |
|
9:00am-9:15am |
Welcome |
Abromson Center Hannaford Hall |
|
9:15am-10:00am |
Open Plenary |
Abromson Center Hannaford Hall |
|
10:00am-10:15am |
The 15 Minute Stretch |
Abromson Center Lobby/Hannaford Hall |
|
10:15am-11:45am |
Poster Session 1 |
Abromson Center Lobby & Mezzanine |
|
10:15am-11:45am |
Oral Session 1 |
Abromson Center Breakout Rooms |
|
11:45am-12:00pm |
Food for Thought |
Abromson Center Lobby |
|
12:00pm-12:45pm |
Fireside Chat |
Abromson Center Hannaford Hall |
|
12:45pm-2:15pm |
Poster Session 2 |
Abromson Center Lobby & Mezzanine |
|
12:45pm-2:15pm |
Oral Session 2 |
Abromson Center Breakout Rooms |
|
2:15pm-3:45pm |
Poster Session 3 |
Abromson Center Lobby & Mezzanine |
|
2:15pm-3:45pm |
Oral Session 3 |
Abromson Center Breakout Rooms |
|
2:00pm-3:30pm |
GRO & OLLI Fellows Presentations |
Abromson Center Hannaford Hall |
|
3:30pm-4:30pm |
GRO & OLLI Fellows Reception |
Abromson Center Rooms 109-110 |
Date |
Milestone |
Action required |
|
Dec 10, 2025 |
Submissions Open |
Begin drafting your abstract and consulting with mentors |
|
Mar 16, 2026 |
Submission Deadline |
Submit your abstract proposal by 8:00am |
|
Mar 17-27, 2026 |
Review Period |
Faculty review abstract; students receive feedback and make edits |
|
Apr 6, 2026 |
Printing Deadline |
Email final poster PDFs to thinkingmatters@maine.edu by 8:00am |
|
Apr 14, 10-12 & 1-4 Apr 16, 10-12 & 1-4 |
Poster Pickup |
Collect printed posters at the ORIO Office (126 Bedford Street, Portland) |
|
Apr 17, 2026 |
Symposium Day! |
8:30am-4:30pm Abromson Center |
|
May 1, 2026 |
Final Archiving |
Deadline to upload materials to Digital Commons |
A: Submit only one abstract per poster or oral presentation. For example, if you and your group members are collaborating on a single presentation together, then submit a single abstract (note – you can acknowledge multiple presenters on a single abstract submission).