FAQ

CAPCON is a conference for CAP students to showcase their research in front of their fellow CAP students, their professors, family, and friends. Students may choose one of two formats to showcase their research: oral presentation or display in the multi-media showcase. CAPCON usually takes place on a weekday afternoon near the end of Term 2. It is great presentation experience, looks nice on a resume, and is fun.

Any CAP student who wants to showcase their research from the past year. Yes, that's you!

We are interested in a wide range of student research. Many students present work they have done in their CAP (or other) classes. Some students present ideas that combine their classes (eg. applying a Sociological lens to a problem discussed in Geography). Students may also want to apply what they’ve learned at UBC to issues they’ve encountered outside the classroom.

Presentations will range in methodology and subject. In all presentations, we are looking for a baseline engagement in research – that is, in the scholarly pursuit of new knowledge.

Are you interested in submitting a creative project (a poem or song etc?). We welcome creative projects if they are anchored in research. For example, if you’d like to perform a spoken word piece, be sure to include a component where you share research you have done on the topic of your piece and how that research relates to the project.

Yes! We are always looking for volunteers to help out with the conference. You can be a greeter or usher, set up our Instagram booth, help with food and drinks, or lend us your IT skills. Look out for our “Call for Volunteers” in February.

You are always welcome to get in touch with us at capcon@ubc.ca

Remember that for most first-year students, academic conferences are new. Don’t be shy to ask questions!

Look for an email in January that invites proposals. The email will direct you to an online form where you can tell us a bit about your project. Specifically, you’ll need to tell us:

• If you are presenting alone, with a partner, or in a group
• Your availability on the day of the conference
• Your stream and contact info
• Your project title
• What type of presentation you are doing: oral presentation or multi-media display
• A brief description of your presentation

The proposal is not a contract. It is okay if your presentation changes somewhat as you work on it.

The point of the proposal phase is to let us know your general topic (for example, so we can put you on a panel with students that share your interests). We are also looking to see whether your project is appropriate for an academic conference (ie. that it is research-related).

If you have questions about making changes to your project, you can always check in with the conference organizers at capcon@ubc.ca

Yes! If you are doing an oral-presentation, visuals (like PowerPoint) are optional.

All presenters in the multi-media display will use visuals, but you can choose what to use (poster, streamed video, PowerPoint etc)

Oral presentations are 10 minutes long (no longer). If you sign up with a group, you can typically choose if you would like one 10-minute slot or two.

The multi-media showcase will take place at 1 or 2 different 30-minute intervals throughout the day. You will stand with your display at these times and answer questions from audience members who pass by.

All presenters will be invited to attend a presenter training session to learn about tips and procedures for the conference

CAPCON-specific office hours will be advertised. You can drop in to discuss your presentation with the faculty organizer.

If your paper relates to a specific CAP class, you may want to talk to that Prof in their office hours.

Click here for a helpful guide to hone your presentation skills

All presentations will be organized into panels. This means, you’ll sit at a table with 3-4 other presenters and each take turns speaking to the audience. A student moderator (usually a CAP alumnus) will introduce you to the audience and moderate the question period.

After each student on a panel presents their paper, the audience has a chance to ask questions. You may get few or several questions. They will likely be asked out of curiosity and interest. They might tell you something that your paper made them think of, or something that they want to know more about. In some cases, they may want to disagree with a point you’ve made.

It’s okay to say you don’t know the answer to a question. It’s okay to remind the audience what you do know about, instead of trying to guess at something you don’t. You can say, for example, “my research was about XYZ, which is why I don’t know very much about ABC…”. You can also say something that the question makes you think about, that is related to the topic.

You should feel free to wear what you are comfortable in. It may be a good idea to dress slightly more formally than usual, since that’s what academics generally do when we attend conferences. We don’t dress for a business meeting or for a party, though. Just comfortable + professional.

The conference is open to the CAP community and that includes presenters’ friends and family.