Over 3,000 students from 46 states and seven different countries will be in Ogden on Thursday, Friday and Saturday for largest national conference dedicated to undergraduate research.

The National Conference on Undergraduate Research will see students present their undergraduate research and show their scholarly and creative activities. Students will be presenting their research each day on the Weber State University campus. There will also be a main speaker for all three days of the conference.

Classes in three buildings will be canceled for NCUR. Chad Mosher, associate director of the Shepherd Union Building said presentations will be held in every classroom of three buildings on campus.

“They’ll be having oral presentations in Elizabeth Hall, the (Wattis) business building and McKay education building,” Mosher said, “so classes in those buildings have been canceled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday.”

According to Mosher, the conference will also result in an increase in traffic in the Union.

“It’s just going to be really busy,” Mosher said. “So it will probably be difficult for students if they want to use the Union. It’s going to be packed.”

Mosher said the Union will be the main place where participants eat, and that all meeting rooms in the building will be closed on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  He also said that there will be poster presentations in the Union Ballrooms. Students can go to the ballrooms and see presenter’s posters.

A waiver of the registration cost has been made for WSU students and employees, so students do not need to register in order to attend NCUR events.

“It will be a great opportunity for students to see the research other students across the country are doing, and students from like five other countries outside the US,” Mosher said.

Director of Media Relations John Kowalewski said while there will be an increase in the number of people on campus, he doesn’t expect students to struggle with finding parking spaces during the conference. He said shuttles will be used to transport students from their hotels to WSU’s campus. Conference members who elect to drive can park at the Dee Events Center.

Shuttles will run at normal times from the Dee Events Center to campus, but students might encounter longer lines than normal.

Mosher said there will also be a dance held during the week for NCUR participants and WSU students. The dance will be in the Atrium of the Union Building.

“It is Friday night. Weber State students are invited,” Mosher said, “as well as NCUR attendees. We’re going to max out the Atrium, having the biggest dance we’ve ever had in the building’s Atrium. That should be pretty cool.”

At the dance, free pizza will be offered for the first 500 students. Free drinks will also be provided. Mosher said a wristband will be required to get into the dance which can be picked up at the Union Information Booth.

John F. Cavitt, director of the office of undergraduate research, was unable to be reached for a comment.

Kowalewski said while having NCUR at WSU may crease some problems, it can serve as an example of what WSU is capable of.

“This is a great opportunity for Weber State,” Kowalewski said. “ . . . And some of these challenges are a great chance to showcase Weber State.”