Tennessee STEM Education Center

Posters at the Capitol



RESEARCH IN ACTION

On February 1, 2006, Tennessee joined a dozen other states by exposing state legislators to undergraduate research through the first-ever Tennessee Posters at the Capitol. Since its inception, this annual event has brought top undergraduate students from public universities across the state to the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville to showcase their work through research posters.

Chosen for their outstanding work in STEM fields, these students highlight the range of research taking place at their institutions. Their presentations create meaningful opportunities for legislators to connect with students from their own districts and gain a deeper understanding of the innovative work being carried out by undergraduates across Tennessee.



GOALS

The Poster at the Capitol project, hosted by Middle Tennessee State University, has two goals – to expose legislators to undergraduate researchers and to expose undergraduates to their legislators.  The state of Tennessee is the beneficiary of this exciting effort.


2026 MTSU PRESENTERS

April 8, 2026
Event Program
Emily Callison
Alexis Katz
Trenton McAlmond
Travis Ray
Olivia Vickers
Madison Yahn

MEDIA SPOTLIGHT


Nine Middle Tennessee State University undergraduate students and researchers, along with other undergraduates from public universities across the state, attended the annual Posters at the Capitol event held at the state Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., on Feb. 14, 2024, and took a photo with Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, front row center, after he shared remarks with the group. (Photo by Theresa Montgomery/Office of Gov. Bill Lee)

MTSU undergrads present STEM research, meet with state officials at Capitol

Ten Middle Tennessee State University undergraduate students and researchers, along with 41 others from public universities across the state, attended the annual Posters at the Capitol event held at the state Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, and took a photo with Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, front and center, after he spoke to them in a short address. (Photo by Theresa Montgomery/Office of Gov. Bill Lee)

MTSU STEM undergrads visit state Capitol, present research at annual ‘Posters’ event

MTSU senior physics major DeVonte Lewis, left, explains his research to Greg Rushton, director of the Tennessee STEM Education Center at MTSU, during the annual Posters at the Capitol event Wednesday, Feb. 16, at the Tennessee State Capitol on Nashville, Tenn. The event features undergraduate student researchers from seven state universities, including MTSU. (MTSU photo Randy Weiler)

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EVENT DETAILS

  • Austin Peay State University (APSU), Dr. Michael Licari, President
  • East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Dr. Brian E. Nolan, President
  • Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), Dr. Sidney A. McPhee, President
  • Tennessee State University (TSU), Mr. Dwayne Tucker, President
  • Tennessee Tech University (TTU), Dr. Philip B. Oldham, President
  • The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Dr. Robert Dooley, Interim Chancellor
  • The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Dr. Donde Plowman, Chancellor
  • The University of Tennessee at Martin, Dr. Yancy Freeman, Chancellor
  • The University of Memphis, Dr. Bill Hardgrave, President

  • 9:00 a.m.        MTSU TSEC staff have access to rooms 8C & 8D and can start setting up easels
  • 9:10 a.m.        Check in with security and take posters to 8C & 8D prior to group photo
  • 9:35 a.m.        All participants meet at the bottom of the grand staircase for a group photo
  • 9:45 a.m.        Group photo (with the Governor, if available)
  • 10:00 a.m.      Students return to Cordell Hull Rooms 8C & 8D to set up posters 
  • 10:30 a.m.      Students stand by their poster and meet with legislators or in legislators’ offices
    (if appointments have been made on behalf of the students)
  • 11:30 a.m.      Lunch will be brought in around this time to designated areas in the rooms with the posters
    Legislators can have lunch with the students
  • 12:30 p.m.      Students take down their posters 
  • 1:00 p.m.        Room must be clear and ready for the next event
  • 1:00 p.m.       (Optional) Participants can make appointments to meet with their legislators in their offices.

Location: Tennessee State Capitol, in the Cordell Hull Building, 425 5th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37243, on the 8th floor in rooms C & D. 

Directions and lists of parking options are found in the links below.

BUSES: If you have a bus, you can get a permit to park a bus downtown from the Metro Nashville Department of Permits. Their number is 615-862-8782. They will send you a form to fill out and tell you where you are able to park.

Posters will be assigned a tripod for their presentation. Poster numbers 1-31 will present in room 8C. Poster number 32-62 will present in room 8D. See building and layout maps for more information.

The poster size should be 30” x 40” and should be displayed portrait. Posters should NOT be trifold. Posters will be displayed on tripods which will be provided. You are responsible for having your poster printed and either foam mounted or purchasing a foam board to which you can attach your printed poster. Please keep in mind that poster text should be legible from a few feet away.

Students are expected to provide poster and the foam board backing to support the posters on the tripods. Tripods will be provided by TSEC for this event.