Sidewalk Symposium Information on One Page

Developed and hosted in Boulder since 2018, UROP's Sidewalk Symposium invites undergraduates to share their research and creative presentations with chalk on campus walkways. UROP welcomes undergraduates at any stage of their project to participate.

 

 

 

UROP's Sidewalk Symposium

Eligibility

  • CU Boulder undergraduates engaged in campus research and creative projects are encouraged to participate.
  • Participants must be working (or completed work) under the supervision of a CU Boulder faculty or staff mentor.
  • UROP funding is not required to participate. Students may participate as a group and should submit the application form once (with all students named).

Time Commitment

Event staff will be on-hand throughout the event, and participants may choose to create and share their chalk art any time.  UROP encourages participants to

  • Plan ahead by sketching your ideas on paper.
  • Start early and allow time to talk with visitors.
  • Consider breaking up your time to work around class schedules.
  • Recruit friends and mentors to help.
  • Keep your design simple if you have limited time.

Supplies

You may bring your own chalk, but UROP will provide supplies for you.  Though we can't guarantee that we'll have enough of the color(s) you intend for your design, we have a wide range of traditional "sidewalk chalk" and soft pastels—and a few blending tools, such as sponges.  We also have gloves, hand wipes and other cleaning supplies. Take care of yourself and be sure to bring your own water, sunscreen and other protective gear.

Inspiration

Get creative and consider including:

  • questions your project seeks to answer or raise
  • thought-provoking or troubling facts, statistics, etc.
  • interesting or surprising outcomes, conclusions, etc.
  • diagrams of methods, relevant processes, etc.
  • illustrations of biological or chemical structures
  • drawings of mechanical components and designs
  • titles of creative or performance pieces
  • graphs, charts or tables of significant data
  • mathematical formulas, relevant theorems, etc.

Check out the photo gallery for more inspiration!

Chalking Policy

Participants are responsible for abiding by the campus chalking policy, which restricts chalking to concrete or asphalt exterior sidewalks that are exposed to natural elements. Chalking must be done by using water-soluble stick-chalk that fades away with the natural elements within a few days. Use of other types of chalk, including but not limited to, spray chalk, chalk paint, chalk markers, and other forms of liquid or powered chalk is not permitted.

Rain or Inclement Weather

In the event of rain or inclement weather, activities be relocated to the “rain location” noted here.  Participants will be provided with sheets of “felt roof underlayment,” which simulates the texture of pavement.

Benefits

For Students

Participation has many benefits for students, and we discover more as they take the form in new and inspiring directions.  We highlight a few here and encourage students to reflect as they get creative!

  • Centers students in the stories about their work—rather than project results
  • Enables students to think about their work in new and inspiring ways
  • Provides a fun and engaging mechanism for disseminating project results
  • Builds confidence and promotes belonging in the campus community
For Programs

Campus departments, programs and other communities can benefit from adapting the format to their purposes.  We highlight a few here and invite you to connect with us as you experiment!

  • Creates accessible presentation opportunities for students new to academic life
  • Provides inclusive pathways for students to connect with the academic community
  • Supports sustainable environmental practices and budgetary strategies
  • Engages the campus community for partnerships and advocacy

Press

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Events

Date TBD

10:00 am to 3:00 pm 
Visual Arts Complex (VAC) Plaza

View location on the Campus Map

Registration

UROP welcomes all CU Boulder undergrads at any stage of their project timeline to participate.

Register for the Sidewalk Symposium

Registration will close on TBD.

Eligibility Details
  • All CU Boulder undergraduates engaged in campus research and creative projects are encouraged to participate.
  • UROP funding is not required to participate. 
  • Participants must be working (or completed work) under the supervision of a CU Boulder faculty or staff mentor.
  • Students may participate as a group and should submit the application form once (with all students named).
Celebrating 40 Years

CU Boulder has an expansive history engaging undergraduates in the research and creative life of the campus dating to the creation of UROP in 1986.