Baylor Students Showcase Summer Research and Community Impact at Summer of Discovery Symposium

WACO, Texas (Sept. 18, 2026) – More than 50 Baylor University undergraduate students presented research and internship projects at the 2026 Summer of Discovery Undergraduate Fellows Research Symposium, highlighting a summer of discovery, innovation, and community engagement through the Office of Engaged Learning's Summer Fellows Program.  

Held in Cashion Academic Center, the symposium featured 48 poster presentations spanning scientific research, healthcare, public policy, social justice, sustainability, education, and the arts. Students shared the results of projects conducted locally in Waco and at institutions across the United States and around the world. 

Summer Fellows participated in a variety of funded experiences, including internships with the City of Waco, Waco Family Medicine, Urban REAP, Young Festival Stage, and the Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty, as well as international research experiences in Argentina and Italy and laboratory-based research through Baylor's B-TRUE Summer Research Program.  

Projects addressed issues ranging from housing affordability, transportation planning, and healthcare access to cancer biology, hearing loss, environmental sustainability, neuroscience, and mosquito-borne disease prevention. Students also explored topics such as homelessness, immigration policy, criminal justice reform, mountain medicine, maternal and infant health, and renewable energy initiatives. 

"The Summer of Discovery is a celebration of curiosity, creativity, and community impact," wrote symposium organizers Dwayne Simmons, Senior Director of STEM Initiatives, and Tammy Adair, Director of Undergraduate Research. Throughout the summer, fellows engaged in research and internships designed to promote the public good while developing professional skills, working alongside faculty and community mentors, and contributing to meaningful projects.  

The symposium served as the culminating event for the Summer Fellows Program, bringing together students, faculty, staff, and community partners to celebrate experiential learning and undergraduate achievement. By presenting their work to a public audience, students demonstrated how research and engaged learning can address real-world challenges while advancing knowledge across disciplines.