After three years in a virtual environment, Wayne State University’s Graduate Research Symposium (GRS) will return to its original in-person format in 2024. The 14th annual GRS will be held Feb. 28, 2024 at the Student Center from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The 2023 GRS re-introduced the live and in-person format with the Three-Minute Thesis competition. The session received rave reviews from students, presenters, and faculty who were excited to return to a live and interactive environment. After several months of deliberation and discussions, the Graduate School chose to move the entire event back to an in-person format while also condensing the event to one day. The virtual edition of the GRS was previously held over three mornings in early March.

“While we saw record attendance at the virtual GRS, holding the event in person gives our researchers and faculty an opportunity to interact and network with the Wayne State community in a much more meaningful way,” said Graduate School Dean Amanda Bryant-Friedrich, Ph.D. “We see the true spirit of the GRS from these meaningful discussions.”

From 2021 through 2023, the virtual GRS drew in more than 3,200 attendees from 62 universities in 36 countries across five continents. However, feedback from presenters and attendees alike showed a desire to return to an in-person format. More than 50% of surveyed presenters over the three years expressed a strong desire to present live on campus.

As a result, the Graduate School will schedule a full day of research and presentations while also providing ample opportunities for networking and discussion. The 2024 GRS will take up the entire second floor of the Student Center and include a continental breakfast, lunch, and evening reception. There will be both morning and afternoon sessions for poster presentations and platform talks. The day will conclude with the Three-Minute Thesis, an international communication competition where presenters share a compelling oration of their research in three minutes or less.

“While we had more virtual attendees at the GRS the past three years, we want to raise the prestige and profile of our signature event,” said Graduate School Associate Director of Marketing Nick Mattar. “We want to create a memorable experience, and that can only be done in a live, in-person setting.”

The Graduate School will unveil the official 2024 presentation lineup in January. The event is open to the campus community and the public. Stay tuned to the GRS website for more information.