Present and Publish

Presenting and publishing are a big part of sharing your research and being part of a land-grant university that strives to share research with its stakeholders. However, it can be daunting if you haven't done much of it. We are here to help with the process. Please reach out to our team for help getting started. 

Curiositas

Curiositas is the premier journal of undergraduate research at Montana State University, showcasing the wide variety of scientific and creative scholarship that occurs at MSU. The Undergraduate Research Council believes that any  work that broadens our intellectual horizons is meaningful research, and we hope to shed light on this work through our journal.

Guidlines for Submissions:

Types of Submissions 

• Research Papers 

• • Content: Appropriate to academic field. Present original findings, analyses, or reviews of existing literature. 

• • Papers are welcome from students in all MSU colleges including English, nursing, engineering, anthropology, range management, biology, and more. 

• • Guidelines: Use a clear thesis, evidence, and scholarly citation style appropriate to your field where applicable.
  • Length: 1,000–3,000 words. 

• Storytelling/Creative Writing/Exposés 

• • Content: Submissions may include, but are not limited to: 

• • • Poetry 

• • • Short stories 

• • • Narratives 

• • • Personal reflections 

• • • Research reflections 

• • • Visual storytelling (e.g., photo essays, comics) 

• • • And more: if you have questions about how your work fits in, please contact us at undergradresearch@montana.edu  

• • Theme: Works should be broadly inspired by research, curiosity, discovery, or exploration—academic or personal. 

• • Length: No minimum-1,000 words (written works) or equivalent for visual content. 

• • Guidelines: Submissions should offer depth and insight, engaging the audience through storytelling or artistic expression.  

• Research Reflection 

• • Content: Explanation of the experience of research. This article will not necessarily report the findings of the work, rather the process and the emotional and social aspect of conducting research. This work should be broadly engaging. 

• • Length: 1,000-2,500 words. 

• • Guidelines: Submissions should offer a storytelling feel. For questions about how your work fits in, please contact us at undergradresearch@montana.edu 

• Cover Art  

• • Theme: Research, discovery, or curiosity. 

• • Format: Digital or high-resolution images suitable for print. 

• • Guidelines: Art should include a short description (<500 words) explaining how it reflects the theme. 

Formatting Requirements 

• Length: 

• • Minimum: 1,000 words for research papers. 

• • Maximum: 3,000 words for research papers. 

• Citation Style: 

• • Appropriate to academic field  

• • Include a bibliography or works cited page. 

• File Type: 

• • Written submissions: Word document or PDF. 

• • Visual submissions: PNG, JPEG, or PDF.  

Review Process 

• All submissions are peer-reviewed by our editorial board. 

• Authors will receive feedback and may be asked to revise their work for clarity or adherence to guidelines. 

Conferences

Below are some regional, national, and international conferences that MSU students have attended. You can also check with your research mentor or department about conferences in your area of study. 

College Arts Association Annual Conference

CAA

For faculty, graduate students, and undergrads, this is the largest national convening of art historians, artists, designers, curators, and visual arts professionals. 

National Collegiate Research Conference

NCRC

This student-run undergraduate research conference at Harvard University is open to students from around the world. 

National Conference on Undergraduate Research 

NCUR

Any undergraduates at MSU can apply to NCUR. Each year, MSU takes a contingent of students to this fun and prestigious conference. 

 

Publishing

Renne Library in ScholarWorks. Legally, for free, in minutes, you can joinmillions of researchers sharing their papers freely with colleagues and the public. The Library staff can help!

*More information coming soon.