February 28, 2003

Media Contact: Michael Dabney (858) 822-3432 or David Artis, (858) 688-2362.

WHAT: Top undergraduate research scholars – representing campuses and scientific disciplines from throughout the University of California system – will gather this weekend at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) to share research project results at the Third Annual UC LEADS Symposium. Also featured at the two-day event will be keynote addresses by Roosevelt Johnson, Ph.D., of the National Science Foundation, and William Lester, Jr., Ph.D., of UC Berkeley and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

WHEN: Saturday, March 1, 2003 from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Sunday, March 2 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. (Saturday’s events includes research poster displays by undergraduates; workshops on leadership, scientific publishing and diversity in science; keynote speaker addresses and a tour of UCSD campus research facilities. Sunday will feature discussions on biology and environmental science, chemistry, mathematics, engineering, computer science and other disciplines).  For a complete listing of events and locations, visit the symposium web site at http://www.ucop.edu/ucleads/symposium.html.

WHERE: Saturday’s events will be held on the UCSD campus, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, including undergraduate’s research presentations in the Recreation Gymnasium, located behind the Old Student Center near the corner of Gilman & Eucalyptus Grove Lane.  Sunday’s activities will be held at the Radisson Hotel-La Jolla, located at Interstate 5 at La Jolla Village Drive.

DETAILS: The Third Annual UC LEADS Symposium is jointly sponsored by UCSD’s Office of Graduate Studies in Research (OGSR), Student Affairs, and Academic Enrichment Programs with the UC Office of the President. UC LEADS and its annual symposium allow UC undergraduate scholars and faculty to meet as an research community to share research results and discussions based on  recent scientific endeavors students have engaged in with UC faculty mentors.  The program also gives undergraduates a chance to become more familiar with research, and graduate school opportunities at other UC campuses.

MEDIA OPP: Interview UC undergraduates and faculty on the benefits of coming together as a research community to share scientific results and concerns.  Interview keynote speakers Roosevelt Johnson and William Lester (both African-Americans) on the need to increase the number of minority students pursuing advanced degrees and entering the professions of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Dr. Johnson will speak Saturday at 12 noon at the UCSD Faculty Club, while Dr. Lester will speak at 6:30 that evening at the Faculty Club.