For more than three decades, the Richard J. and Martha D. Denman Undergraduate Research Forum has celebrated undergraduate innovation and curiosity, and this year's forum on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in the Ohio Union’s Archie M. Griffin Grand Ballroom will be no exception. The Denman Forum serves as one of Ohio State’s marquee events honoring the research accomplishments of undergraduate students in their final year of study.
As the university’s only competitive undergraduate poster forum, the Denman Forum provides a platform for students to share the projects they have developed through months and often years of inquiry, experimentation, and analysis. The event recognizes excellence in research communication, rewarding students who demonstrate exceptional clarity and depth in presenting both their process and their findings.
Denman Schedule and Categories:
This year’s forum features four presentation sessions, each highlighting a diverse array of research areas:
Session 1: 9:00–10:30 a.m.
- Innovations in Medicine
- Understanding Cancer
Session 2: 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
- Engineering and Technology
- Health Under the Microscope
Session 3: 1:30–3:00 p.m.
- Food, Agriculture, & Animal Sciences
- Pediatric and Family Health
- Society, Commerce, & Behavior
Session 4: 3:30–5:00 p.m.
- Arts, Culture, & Humanities
- Earth and Beyond
- Public Health
In addition to the generous awards endowed by the Denman family, several Ohio State partners will present discipline-specific prizes. Awards will be offered in collaboration with:
- Center for Ethics and Human Values
- Infectious Disease Institute
- Secondary Data Core
- Sustainability Institute
Each student presentation is evaluated by three independent reviewers (a mix of faculty, staff, and Denman alumni) using the official Denman Reviewer Rubric. Reviewers assess both the written poster content and the student’s oral presentation of their research.
Category winners are invited to an awards reception, where they receive:
- A certificate of scholarship
- A placement medallion and ribbon
- A cash prize recognizing their research excellence
The Denman Forum continues to highlight the dedication, creativity, and scholarly impact of Ohio State’s brightest undergraduate student researchers who embody the university’s commitment to curiosity and discovery.