Posters at the Capitol

On February 1, 2006, Tennessee joined a dozen other states by exposing state legislators to undergraduate research through the first-ever Tennessee Posters at the Capitol. On February 15, 2023, this annual tradition carried on as fifty-one undergraduate students from seven public universities presented their research through posters at the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville. These students were selected to represent the best of undergraduate research in STEM disciplines at their institutions. Legislators met students from their districts and saw first-hand the outstanding research being conducted by undergraduates across the state.

Goals

The Poster at the Capitol project, hosted by Middle Tennessee State University, has two goals - to expose legislators to undergraduate researchers and to expose undergraduates to their legislators. The state of Tennessee is the beneficiary of this exciting effort.

Posters at the Capitol 2023

Photo by Theresa Montgomery/Office of Gov. Bill Lee

2023 Participating Universities

Austin Peay State University (APSU), Dr. Michael Licari, President
East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Dr. Brian E. Noland, President
Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), Dr. Sidney A. McPhee, President
Tennessee State University (TSU), Dr. Glenda Glover, President
University of Memphis (U of M), Dr. Bill Hardgrave, President
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK), Dr. Donde Plowman, Chancellor
The University of Tennessee, Martin (UTM), Dr. Keith Carver, Chancellor

2023 Schedule

All times are Central Standard Time

9:00 a.m. MTSU TSEC staff have access to rooms 8C & 8D and can start setting up easels

9:15 a.m. All participants arrive at Cordell Hull Building and check in with security

9:35 a.m. All participants meet at the bottom of the grand staircase for a group photo

9:45 a.m. Group photo (with the Governor, if available)

10:00 a.m. Students arrive at Cordell Hull Rooms 8C & 8D to set up posters

10:30 a.m. Students stand by their poster and meet with legislators or in legislators’
offices (if appointments have been made on behalf of the students)

11:30 a.m. Lunch will be brought in around this time to designated areas in the rooms
with the posters. Legislators can have lunch with the students – Please RSVP by 2/3/2023

12:30 p.m. Students take down their posters

1:00 p.m. Room must be clear and ready for the next event

After 1:00 p.m. (optional) Participants can make appointments to meet with their legislators in their offices

Directions and Parking for the Event

Location: Tennessee State Capitol, in the Cordell Hull Building, 425 5th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37243, on the 8th floor in rooms C & D.

Directions and lists of parking options are found in the links below.

BUSES: If you have a bus, you can get a permit to park a bus downtown from the Metro Nashville Department of Permits. Their number is 615-862-8782. They will send you a form to fill out and tell you where you are able to park.

Poster and Presentation Information

Posters will be assigned a tripod for their presentation. Poster numbers 1-31 will present in room 8C. Poster number 32-62 will present in room 8D. See building and layout maps for more information.

Poster Guidelines

The poster size should be 30” x 40” and should be displayed portrait. Posters should NOT be trifold. Posters will be displayed on tripods which will be provided. You are responsible for having your poster printed and either foam mounted or purchasing a foam board to which you can attach your printed poster. Please keep in mind that poster text should be legible from a few feet away.

poster illustration

Students are expected to provide poster and the foam board backing to support the posters on the tripods. Tripods will be provided by TSEC for this event.