Igniting Curiosity

Inside UC San Diego's 2022 Undergraduate Research Conference

More than an academic event—a launchpad for tomorrow's scientific pioneers.

Where Discovery Takes Center Stage

Every year, UC San Diego transforms into a vibrant hub of intellectual exchange at its Undergraduate Research Conference (URC), a cornerstone event celebrating student innovation across all disciplines. The 2022 conference stood out not only for its triumphant return to in-person activities post-pandemic but also for its bold emphasis on diversity, mentorship, and real-world impact. By bridging classrooms with communities, it empowered a new generation to tackle global challenges—from climate science to social equity—through rigorous, faculty-guided research ² ⁹ .

Conference Highlights

400+ student presentations
50+ faculty mentors
20 interdisciplinary tracks

Students presenting their research projects at the 2022 URC

The Conference at a Glance: Structure & Significance

A Confluence of Bright Minds

Held annually, the URC showcases undergraduates nominated by faculty to present original research. The 2022 iteration featured:

Oral presentations: Students delivered 12-minute talks on projects spanning economics, oceanography, AI, and public health, followed by moderated discussions ² .
Cross-institutional collaboration: Researchers from community colleges, universities, and nonprofits like the Ocean Discovery Institute (ODI) united to share insights ¹ ⁹ .
Hybrid accessibility: Virtual components enabled broader participation, reflecting lessons from the 2022 Summer Research Conference's online model ³ .

Undergraduate research is a critical training ground for scientific resilience. As Scripps Institution of Oceanography's pilot study noted:

"Participating in research fosters critical thinking, prepares students for the 21st-century workforce, and helps them decide whether to include research in their careers" ⁹ . The URC amplifies this by creating a supportive ecosystem where curiosity translates into tangible solutions.

Research Disciplines

STEM Fields 65%
Social Sciences 20%
Arts & Humanities 10%
Interdisciplinary 5%

Spotlight Initiative: Culturally Responsive Mentoring in Geosciences

Breaking Barriers in Ocean Sciences

Geosciences remain the least diverse STEM field, with 90% of professional roles held by white individuals ⁹ . To address this, UC San Diego and ODI launched a pioneering mentoring program in 2022, pairing undergraduate mentors with K–12 students from underserved San Diego communities.

The Experiment: Methodology Step-by-Step

This initiative combined pedagogical training with hands-on outreach:

Recruitment: Eight racially diverse UCSD juniors/seniors were trained in culturally responsive mentoring practices, focusing on anti-bias frameworks and youth-centric pedagogy ⁹ .
Curriculum Design: Co-developed with ODI leaders, lessons demystified college pathways and highlighted ocean science careers.
Implementation: Undergraduates mentored 47 K–12 students weekly, documenting progress via reflective journals.

Undergraduate mentors working with K-12 students in the ODI program

Results: Seeds of Change

The pilot yielded transformative outcomes:

Table 1: Participant Demographics & Output ⁹
Group	Count	Key Contributions
Undergraduate Mentors	10	100% reported improved teaching/mentoring skills
K–12 Mentees	47	78% expressed increased interest in STEM careers
Faculty/ODI Facilitators	5+	Co-authored 2 papers on equity-focused mentoring

Qualitative insights were equally powerful:

"I learned mentoring isn't about having all the answers—it's about listening and empowering."

UCSD Undergraduate Mentor, 2022 ⁹

Mentor Skill Development

Skill Area	Improvement
Cultural Responsiveness	92%
Lesson Planning	85%
Critical Reflection	88%

The Scientist's Toolkit: Essentials for Impactful Research

Five Key Resources from the URC

Successful projects relied on accessible, adaptable tools:

Reflective Journals

Documenting iterative learning & biases. Mentors tracked growth in cultural awareness ⁹ .

Research Mentoring

Collaborative Platforms

Cross-team data/resource sharing. Virtual hubs for hybrid conference sessions ³ .

Technology Teamwork

Open-Source AI Libraries

Accelerating data analysis. Rose Yu's lab used diffusion models for climate prediction .

AI Innovation

Community Partnerships

Grounding research in real-world needs. ODI's network enabled youth outreach ⁹ .

Engagement Impact

Modular Presentation Kits

Simplifying complex concepts. URC presenters used visual abstracts ² .

Communication Design

Legacy & Future Horizons

The 2022 URC exemplified how undergraduate research can drive both innovation and inclusivity. Programs like the ODI partnership are now blueprints for UC-wide initiatives, with plans to expand mentor training to 10+ campuses by 2026. As the geosciences diversify, these students prove that the greatest discoveries emerge when all voices are heard.

"We're not just studying the ocean—we're changing who gets to explore it."

Program Coordinator, Scripps/ODI ⁹