About

Overview

The Science Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Network was established in 2016 by a community of Irish institutions interested in enhancing practice in undergraduate research in the Sciences. The SURE Network aims to enhance practice through dissemination of best practice, and implementation of workshops, conferences and an undergraduate journal. The SURE Network is a disciplinary network and member of the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.

Purpose

The purpose of the SURE Network is: to form a community of institutions and people interested in enhancing practice in undergraduate research in the Sciences.

Objectives

The objectives of the SURE Network are:

1. To provide a shared space where resources can be exchanged, disseminated and stored for use by others.
2. To form a community where connections can be formed on a national and/or regional basis to enable the establishment of inter-institutional initiatives e.g. undergraduate conferences.
3. To provide a platform which can be used by institutions to collectively apply for sponsorship, funding etc where appropriate.

Activities

The activities of the SURE Network are:

1. Conferences: Starting in 2018, the SURE Network has implemented an annual series of regional undergraduate conferences in the Sciences. Three regional Science Undergraduate Research Conferences have taken place in each of September 2018 and September 2019, showcasing the research work undertaken by Final Year students on science programmes who completed their studies in June 2018 and June 2019 respectively.  Final year students formed the audience for the regional conferences, at which the presenters are their counterparts from the previous year. The SURE conference took place virtually as one national online conference in 2020 and 2021.  More information…
2. Journal: The best papers from the conferences are invited to submit a paper to an Undergraduate Research Journal, which is published online and edited by the SURE Network.
3. Curriculum Development: The SURE Network is committed to researching and developing models for the effective integration of research into the undergraduate curriculum in the Sciences. More information…

Institutional Membership

The SURE Network is comprised of representatives of the following Higher Education Institutions in Ireland:

1. Atlantic Technological University
2. Dundalk Institute of Technology
3. Munster Technological University
4. South East Technological University
5. Technological University Dublin
6. Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest
7. Technological University Dublin

Committee Structure

The SURE Network has the following committee structure:

• SURE Network National Committee
• SURE Network National Programme Committee
• SURE Network National Conference Committee
• SURE Network Local Programme Committees
• SURE Network Local Conference Committees
• SURE Network Undergraduate Journal Committee
• SURE Network Curriculum Development Committee

Further information is available in the Committees section is this site.