Now some of you may be wondering why UMBC loves its abbreviations … to be honest, I have no idea (it certainly doesn’t help that our very name is an abbreviation). SO, to make matters somewhat clearer, let me explain URCAD (it’s the least I can do).
URCAD = Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Day
(What a mouthful! … hence, URCAD)
Now, I can’t remember if I’ve mentioned it, but this semester, my research is on Will Ferrell films and masculinity. I’ve been slowly plodding through, transcribing all of the movies (trust me, they stop being funny when you have to pause them every two seconds to write down what folks said, haha). Still, this wouldn’t be so bad except that I’m going to have to present my findings at URCAD.
Truth be told, I love the attention that I will get at this event, but it is also terrifying to have the entire campus community come to see what I’ve done. Let me explain: URCAD is the one day each year when everyone who has done research and wants to show it off (or has to as part of their departmental honors program …. ahem) gives either a presentation or displays a poster board, explaining their research and fielding questions.
Sound intimidating? It is, but it is also the time when we really get a chance to understand what each other’s majors really mean (come on, admit it, you have no idea what American Studies really is … even if you’ve read my blog and think it’s about Star Trek, you’ve only understood a fraction of what we do). That’s the real beauty of URCAD. My friends could sit me down and spend all day trying to explain why understanding the life cycle of a worm matters, but it’s usually not until URCAD that I can see it alongside all of their peers’ and get how it all fits together.
So … yay for URCAD!
And boo for having to fill out my application form … sigh!
Vanessa you ar a stronger person then I am, I can’t stand Will Ferrell fro 10 minutes let alone every movie he’s in, slowly and painfully… Despite my aversion to WF, however, I think your research sounds FASCINATING and would love to hear more about it! When is URCAD for those of us that are interested in seeing what our amazing UMBC students are coming up with?
Haha! I love Will Ferrell, so it’s not that torturous for me
)
URCAD is on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 and it is in the University Center Ballroom. I’m still not sure if I want to do a presentation or a poster board (and I need to decide nowish), but either way, there’s going to be a LOT of awesome presentations that day! I’m pretty excited!!!