What Is CUSRS?
The Colorado Undergraduate Space Research Symposium is an annual, nonprofit event that showcases original research, engineering projects, and outreach initiatives undertaken by undergraduate students across Colorados colleges and universities. Founded in 2010, the symposium provides a platform where students can present their findings to peers, faculty, industry professionals, and representatives from NASA, the Colorado Space Grant Consortium, and private aerospace firms.
Beyond the presentations, CUSRS fosters mentorship, networking, and collaboration. Participants gain valuable experience in scientific communication, receive constructive feedback, and often secure internships or research positions after the event.
Typical Schedule
A threeday format balances formal sessions with informal interactions.
| Day | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 09:00 10:00 | Opening ceremony & keynote usually a NASA astronaut or senior industry executive |
| 10:15 12:30 | Oral presentations (core and interdisciplinary tracks) | |
| 13:30 15:30 | Poster session students stand by their posters for oneonone discussions | |
| Day 2 | 09:00 11:00 | Panel discussion: Career paths in space exploration |
| 11:15 13:00 | Workshops spacecraft design, data analysis, science communication | |
| 14:00 16:00 | Student competition CubeSat design challenge | |
| Day 3 | 09:00 11:00 | Bestpaper award ceremony and closing remarks |
| 11:15 12:30 | Networking lunch with industry recruiters | |
| 13:00 15:00 | Campus tours and outreach activities for local highschool groups |
Student Research Highlights
Each year, CUSRS receives over 150 submissions spanning astrophysics, planetary science, aerospace engineering, and space policy. Below are examples of recent projects that illustrate the breadth of work:
- Astrophysics: Spectroscopic analysis of variable stars in the Galactic halo used data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey to identify new RR Lyrae candidates.
- Planetary Science: Laboratory simulation of Martian regolith for drilling experiments produced a realistic analog material and tested drill designs for the Perseverance rover.
- Aerospace Engineering: Design and 3D printing of a lowcost CubeSat structural frame achieved a 15% mass reduction while maintaining stiffness.
- Space Policy: Legal implications of commercial lunar resource extraction comparative analysis of US, ESA, and emerging national frameworks.
Students are encouraged to upload a PDF of their full paper and a short video abstract to the symposiums digital repository, making their work accessible to a global audience.
Partners & Sponsors
The success of CUSRS relies on strong partnerships with academic institutions, government agencies, and industry leaders. Key supporters include:
- NASA Johnson Space Center provides keynote speakers and grants for student travel.
- Colorado Space Grant Consortium offers mentorship programs and funding for research.
- Lockheed Martin Aeronautics supplies technical judges for the CubeSat challenge.
- University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado School of Mines, and Colorado State University host the symposium on a rotating campus basis.
Sponsorship opportunities are available at multiple levels, each offering visibility to a highly motivated audience of future space professionals.
How to Participate
Students: Submit an abstract (max 300 words) by the spring deadline. Accepted abstracts move to a fullpaper submission, after which presenters are assigned a session slot.
Faculty Advisors: Register your research group, provide letters of recommendation for students, and help coordinate travel logistics.
Volunteers: We need help with registration desks, poster setup, and technical support. Signup forms are available on the symposiums website.
All participants receive a certificate of attendance, and the top three oral presenters earn travel grants for the next years symposium.
