The North Dakota Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research’s 2012 state conference is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 18, at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, N.D. 

The meeting is being held jointly with a convocation, titled “Beginnings, Breakthroughs and Beautiful Ideas,” to showcase undergraduate research in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields, commonly known as STEM, as well as non-STEM areas. The conference provides opportunities for interactions between university faculty, students, business and governmental leaders. A poster session for undergraduate and graduate STEM students will be held along with oral presentation and posters from undergraduate students in other disciplines.

The keynote speaker is Naomi Oreskes, an American science historian and professor of history and science studies at the University of California, San Diego. Oreskes’ work focuses on issues related to science and public policy. Anne-Marie Mazza, second plenary speaker, was the first director of the Science Technology and Law Program. The program was designed to foster communication and analysis among scientists, engineers and members of the legal community. Mazza is a member of National Academies. 

Agenda, poster abstract submission information can be found on the North Dakota EPSCoR website at www.ndepscor.nodak.edu. The abstract submission deadline is Wednesday, Aug. 29 at noon.

A no-cost conference and meal registration is online at http://apps.und.edu/epscor. Conference registration closes at noon, Tuesday, Sept. 11.

Questions may be directed to Cathy Lerud at the University of North Dakota office of North Dakota EPSCoR at 701-777-2492 or cathy.lerud@research.und.edu.

North Dakota EPSCoR is a federally and state funded program designed to help university researchers compete more effectively for federal, regional and private research grants in the sciences, engineering and mathematics. For more information, visit www.ndepscor.nodak.edu.