Your capstone project represents a significant investment of your time and effort, so it’s important to share your findings with others who may find them useful. Here are some suggestions:
Present your research at a conference. Many professional conferences accept poster presentations and talks from students. This allows you to share your work with experts in your field and get feedback. Reach out well in advance to conference organizers. Make sure to clearly explain the problem/research question, methods, results, and conclusions in your presentation and have quality visuals. Networking at conferences is also a way to disseminate your work further.
Publish your capstone paper. Many universities have an undergraduate research journal where capstone papers can be published. You could also investigate open access journals in your subject area that accept student works. Take time to write your paper following publication guidelines, thoroughly explain your methods and findings, and have it reviewed by your capstone advisor before submitting. Being published increases visibility for your research.
Deposit your capstone paper and materials in an open access repository. Major universities have research repositories where works like theses and dissertations are archived and can be discovered by search engines. You should check if your university has such a repository and deposit your final capstone paper, presentation materials, datasets, code, and any other materials there for others to find and reuse with proper attribution. This ensures long-term access and preservation of your work.
Create a research profile on academic networking platforms. Profiles on sites like Academia.edu, ResearchGate, or your university’s researcher page allow you to share your capstone project with other researchers in your field worldwide. Upload your paper, describe your research, include relevant hashtags, and engage with others on the platform. This raises the visibility and discoverability of your work within academic networks.
Give public talks and presentations about your research. If your university has public lectures or community seminars, see if you can present your capstone as a non-technical talk for a general audience. You could also contact local libraries, community colleges, or civic organizations to see if they would be interested in a presentation. Bring visual aids and be prepared to explain the significance and implications of your research in an approachable way.
Produce outreach materials and engage non-academic audiences. If your research deals with an issue the public cares about, create lay summaries, infographics, videos, or other media to share on relevant blogs, news sites, non-profit pages, etc. Reach out to journalists, advocates, and influencers in pertinent areas to see if they would be interested in featuring your work. This expands the impact of your research outside academia.
Consider developing your capstone into a conference poster, presentation, or short article for disciplinary or cross-disciplinary publications. Contact editors and peer reviewers at pertinent publications to gauge their interest. Refine your materials into a publishable format following their guidelines. Getting published multiplies the reach of your findings.
Share on appropriate social media channels. Create brief, lightweight summaries and infographics to post on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, or other professional platforms with relevant hashtags to maximize discoverability. Engage with comments and questions. Social media raises visibility for your research and allows connection with potential collaborators worldwide.
Talk to your capstone advisor or university research office about additional dissemination opportunities. They may know of department seminars, upcoming alumni talks, industry partnerships, or other avenues to share your findings. Leverage their networks to find audiences interested in your specific topic. You never know where exposure of your research might lead.
Take time to package and share your capstone research through multiple appropriate channels to maximize impact and visibility. Explain your work clearly for varied audiences while properly acknowledging your university and advisor. Strategic dissemination following completion of your project expands its reach and potential benefits for future research and application.