SPARC: Student Psychology Annual Research Conference

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Experience the premier student psychology conference in the Southeast.

Do you have a research idea, a paper from last semester, or research that is currently in progress that you would enjoy sharing? Don't miss your opportunity to participate in SPARC!

SPARC is a research conference, held each spring, designed to facilitate personal and professional enrichment as both undergraduate and graduate students share their papers and projects.

Our conference is a wonderful way for students to present and get feedback in a supportive and collaborative environment. SPARC makes a great addition to your resume, and truly one of the UWG Psychology's most celebratory and communal events of the school year!

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SPARC 2025: Emerging Ideas for Human Science Research

Date: Thursday, April 10, 2025
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Location: Melson Hall

Call for Proposals

The 2025 SPARC Committee is pleased to announce a call for proposals for our spring conference, Emerging Ideas for Human Science Research. The word "for" is included to emphasize that there are new societal, technological, and theoretical developments that require a response from human science. Our hope is that presentations will engage new and creative thinking both on traditional human science topics (human experience) AND on new challenges and developments that require thinking about their possible implications for human science (e.g., generative AI).

Submission Guidelines

We are introducing two structural changes to the program this year:

  1. We welcome proposals both for individual presentations of 15 minutes AND symposia of 45 minutes. 
  2. We are extending the invitation to participate in SPARC to our companion disciplines of sociology and anthropology. However, all proposals must have psychological relevance. 

Proposals for individual presentations should include a title and a 50-100 word abstract. Symposium proposals require both a title and brief abstract (50-100 words) for the symposium, AND a brief abstract for each presenter.

We especially welcome symposia addressing a topic from different disciplinary, theoretical, or methodological points of view. You may also include a discussant for a symposium as well—someone to comment on similarities, differences, important themes, and questions arising from the presentations.

Please submit your proposals to sparc@westga.edu by March 21, 2025.

If you have questions, feel free to send an email to rlafleur@westga.edu or losbeck@westga.edu.


Frequently Asked Questions and Additional Information

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Please submit your proposals to sparc@westga.edu
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Yes you can. You can submit up to two proposals including group presentations.
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Yes! We encourage students to work together with others to share new ideas and their collective research!
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We welcome 15-minute individual presentations and 45-minute symposia.
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You will not miss psychology classes. All afternoon classes in psychology will be canceled for the conference.
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This conference is an excellent opportunity for our graduate students. Not only is SPARC a wonderful opportunity for students to share their work (completed or still in progress) with others in the psychology, but it is also a professional presentation that can be listed on a vita/resume.
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SPARC is a wonderful opportunity for undergraduate students to share their work (completed or still in progress) with others in the psychology, and it enhance a resume when it comes to internships, practicum, or graduate school.