The Claremont Colleges Library and Pomona College are sponsoring a Spring 2021 semester Student Poster Showcase which highlights materials on our region’s environmental history found in the Western Water Archives.

Participants are encouraged to develop a poster if they are just starting on a project, presenting preliminary research, or in the planning stages of a creative work. To enter the showcase, students must choose at least one item found in the Western Water Archives and develop a digital poster presentation that captures the material’s significance with respect to the overall project.

Presenting a poster of your project or research will allow you to build your presentation skills by communicating concepts visually through technical and audio-visual methods as opposed to traditional written means such as a paper, article, or report. It will also allow you to engage with other scholars, open up potential for in-depth discussions about research with faculty, and allow you to share your research widely in an Open Access format.

The showcase will be held entirely online and will highlight between 5-10 projects selected by the judging panel. Students selected for participation in the final showcase will need to be available via Zoom to present and answer questions, Monday, May 10, 2021 at 9:00am (PDT).

Awards Offered

The Western Water Archives Student Poster Showcase is offering the following awards and prizes:

  • First prize: $300.00 plus a year-long student membership to the professional organization of their choice: American Society for Environmental History ($40 value); Soil and Water Conservation Society ($40 value); or other science or history organization of student’s choice (not to exceed $50).
  • Second prize: $200.00
  • Third prize: $100.00
  • All students will receive a certificate of participation after completion of the showcase and will be featured on the Western Water Archives website.

Cash prizes are distributed by Pomona College. Membership prizes will be distributed by The Claremont Colleges Library.


Important Dates

Round 1: Deadline to Submit your Project Summary

Sunday, March 21, 2021, no later than 11:59pm (PDT)

Applicants Notified of Invitation to Participate in Student Poster Showcase

Monday, March 29, 2021, sent out no later than 5:00pm (PDT)

All applicants will be notified via email if they are chosen to participate in the Student Poster Showcase. Not all applicants will be invited to Round 2 where they will be asked to submit their poster, video presentation, and bibliography for the showcase. The showcase will only include 5-10 projects.

Round 2: Deadline to Submit Your Poster, Video Presentation, and Bibliography to Participate in Student Poster Showcase

Sunday, April 25, 2021, no later than 11:59pm (PDT)

Day of Student Poster Showcase

Monday, May 10, 2021, 9:00am (PDT)

Notification to Prize Winners

Monday, May 10, 2021 via email no later than 5:00pm (PDT)


Eligibility


Evaluation Criteria

Please read the full Western Water Archives Student Poster Showcase Award – Guidelines & Judging Criteria  for specific and detailed information about how your submission will be judged.

Prize-winning submissions will convey a clear and compelling vision of the research topic and highlight the materials found in the Western Water Archives.

Submissions must include the elements described in the Judging Criteria and will be evaluated by a judging panel composed of librarians and faculty.


How to Participate


Agreements

  • Agreement to Publish:  Individuals and groups must agree to confer a limited license to The Claremont Colleges Library in order to make their work (poster or video, or both) publicly accessible on the Western Water Archives website and The Claremont Colleges YouTube Channel. All individuals will retain copyright of their works.
  • Agreement to Attend Poster Showcase: Participants agree to attend the Poster Showcase and be prepared to present their posters if they are selected. Please check Important Dates for updated information.

Information for Faculty


Accommodations

Students who may benefit from the use of an interpreter at their educational institution should communicate their presentation through American (ASL) or International (ISL) Sign Language on camera with the assistance of an interpreter who will voice the presentation off camera. Support for interpretation services may be available at your campus Accessibility Services or Office of Disability Services. Please note, only the student presenter and the poster should be visible in the supporting video presentation.


Questions?

Do you have questions about the Western Water Archives or the Student Poster Showcase application process? Please feel free to contact us.