The event is designed to showcase the high caliber of research conducted by CSU undergraduate and graduate students in the full complement of academic programs offered by the CSU system, said campus coordinator Hedy Carpenter, associate director of Graduate Programs, Office of Graduate Studies, Research and International Programs.

"It's a great way to highlight our students' accomplishments," said Carpenter, who added that presenters are encouraged to attend as many sessions as possible, both within and outside of their own fields. "This is an academic experience; we want students to absorb as much as they can about the research others are conducting in a range of disciplines."

Their choices will include topics as varied as "Political conflict and brain drain in Sri Lanka," "Gender warfare and feminine retribution in 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,' " and "Behavioral responses to dehydration in the California and Pacific tree frogs."

Students will make oral presentations to peers as well as to faculty judges from surrounding universities and professional experts from major corporations, foundations and public agencies. Traditionally, judges have been drawn from outside the CSU system to assure impartial evaluations and to broaden awareness of CSU student achievement.

"The judges are always impressed with the caliber of the work," Carpenter said. "The students who compete at this level are always polished and professional. Many have given talks at professional academic conferences, and the vast majority give PowerPoint presentations."

Twenty panels are planned, each with three judges to review student research in categories ranging from creative arts and design to the physical and mathematical sciences. All the judges must be strong in their fields, Carpenter said, to pose stimulating questions to the presenters.

"It is heartening to see judges dedicate their time to this important event," she added, noting that excellent judges are critical to the success of the competition.

First and second place awards for each category will be presented at a Saturday, May 1 awards luncheon, with $400 awards for first place winners and $200 for second place.

Registration will begin at 10 a.m. Friday, April 30, on the portico of the Oviatt Library. Presentations will begin at noon in the College of Business and Economics. On Saturday, sessions will be held in Manzanita Hall starting at 8 a.m. and ending at noon.

The talks are open to the public. For more information about the event, visit the competition Web site at www.csun.edu/graduatestudies/studentresearch.htm, or click the "CSU Student Research Competition" link on the campus Web site home page.

California State University, Northridge has 33,000 full- and part-time students and offers 61 bachelor's and 42 master's degrees as well as 28 education credential programs. Founded in 1958, it is the only four-year university in the San Fernando Valley and the fourth largest in the 23-campus CSU system. The university serves as the intellectual, economic and cultural heart of the Valley and beyond.