From: Office of the Vice-President Research and International <VPRI@umanitoba.ca>
Sent: August 24, 2026 9:14 AM
Subject: Request for Volunteer Judges: 2026 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Dear Deans, Associate Deans, and Department Heads:

Please distribute broadly to faculty members, Postdocs, and Research Associates in your units. Deadline to respond is Monday, September 14, 2026.  

This message is sent on behalf of Dr. B. Mario Pinto, Vice-President (Research and International)

Dear Colleagues,

Following the success of last year’s event, we are excited to welcome the Undergraduate Research Showcase (URS) back on Thursday, October 22, 2026. The URS gives undergraduate students an opportunity to share the research, creative work, and innovative ideas they have developed throughout the year.

The success of the URS would not be possible without the support of our volunteer judges. We are inviting you to volunteer a few hours of your time to evaluate and celebrate the work of our undergraduate students.

This year, the URS will feature three presentation streams:

Oral Presentation Stream
Students will have up to three minutes to present their research using a format of their choice.

Poster Presentation Stream
Students will present their research through a poster and engage with judges during the scheduled judging period.

Innovation Stream (New)
Our new Innovation Stream will provide students with an opportunity to showcase innovative projects and ideas in a more interactive format. Presentations will be primarily oral and demonstration based and will be held in the new IDEA START Program space in University Centre (Room 151, 1st Floor).

Event Details

Date: Thursday, October 22, 2026
Location: University Centre, Fort Garry Campus
Judging Time: 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Judging Period: Judges will be assigned a two-hour window closer to the event.
Prizes: Students will compete for $7,500 in cash prizes

Presentation Categories:

• Applied Sciences
• Health Sciences
• Natural Sciences
• Social Sciences and Humanities
• Creative Works

Judges for the Oral and Poster Presentation Streams will evaluate approximately 4 to 6 students within their selected stream and category. For the Innovation Stream, all categories will be evaluated together as one judging pool. Judges will receive detailed instructions and a judging rubric in advance.

What Happens After You Sign Up?

After registering as a judge, you will receive:

• An invitation to a virtual Judge Information Session on October 14, 2026, where we will review the judging process, criteria, and event logistics.
• Your assigned two-hour judging block by October 9, 2026.
• A judging package containing scoring rubrics, instructions, and event details prior to the Showcase.

If you are interested in volunteering as a judge, please complete this form by September 14, 2026.

We greatly appreciate your time and support in helping our students share their work, receive valuable feedback, and celebrate their accomplishments.

Warmest regards,
Mario Pinto