The Denman is open to students who will graduate in any semester of the calendar year of the event who have conducting faculty-mentored research. The 202y Denman Forum, therefore, will be open to students graduating in spring 2027, summer 2027, and autumn 2027. 

Although the majority of students present alone, students working on the same project under the same faculty mentor are allowed to present in pairs. All students presenting, either individual or in a pair, must be graduating in 2027. Additionally, students may present research that was conducted under the supervision of a non-Ohio State faculty mentor. 

Final research results are not necessary to present. Yet, because this is a competitive forum, having results to share may help our reviewers evaluate your work.

Students should be prepared to complete an application survey with the following information:

• Student's demographic and contact information
• Research mentor's name and contact information
• Research/creative project title, abstract (450 words or less) and category selection
• Research/creative project co-presenter, if any
• Ohio State advising report upload (used to verify 2027 graduation)

Students who participate in the Denman Forum are eligible to submit their poster to the Ohio State's Libraries' Knowledge Bank Denman Collection. We do not automatically publish any work. Students are not required to submit their work to the Knowledge Bank. Students should confer with their research mentor before publishing.

Currently, students can submit their research in one of the following 10 categories (these categories are subject to change):

• Arts, Culture, & Humanities
• Earth and Beyond
• Engineering and Technology
• Food, Agriculture, and Animal Sciences
• Health Under the Microscope
• Innovations in Medicine
• Pediatric and Family Health
• Public Health
• Society, Commerce, & Behavior
• Understanding Cancer

• Students are responsible for printing their 36" Height x 48" Width poster. Using UniPrint services across campus is recommended.
• Students should arrive to their assigned session 15 minutes early to set up and be prepared to speak with at least 3 reviewers, in addition to the general audience. Reviewers will interact with the students as they see fit - either allowing the students to speak fully or asking questions as the student presents their research.
• Students should plan for roughly 10 minutes of interaction for each reviewer, including questions.
• Reviewers are not required to identify themselves to presenters, and some reviewers choose not to. Students should prepare to interact with all audience members in a courteous and professional manner.

A strong research abstract should follow an “hourglass” structure, beginning with broad context, narrowing to specific details such as the problem, purpose, methods, and results, and ending with the broader significance of the work. When creating a research poster, it is important to use appropriate templates for your discipline (Nursing, CFAES, ENR, Public Health and others) and consult with your research mentor (and your college, if applicable) to understand expectations and standards, including design and printing guidelines. Before presenting, ensure your poster is reviewed and approved. During your presentation, tailor your message to your audience, highlight key points instead of reading directly from the poster, and focus on a few clear takeaways. Printing services are available on campus, but requirements and recommendations may vary, so always confirm details with your mentor or department.

Ohio State faculty, staff, post-doctoral associates, graduate/professional students, and Denman alumni are invited to serve as reviewers at the Denman Forum. Please email ugresarch@osu.edu for information about reviewer expectations.