You're doing exciting research, and you have many opportunities to publish and present your work. But before you write an article or submit a conference proposal, you should consider the following factors.
Patents: Do you, your advisor, or any other member of your research team intend to apply for a patent based on this research?
If you answer "yes," ask your advisor if your publication or presentation would count as public disclosure, which would impede the patent application.
Journal or Conference Policy: Will you be allowed to include your article or presentation in your thesis/dissertation/project?
If the answer is "no," consult your advisor about your options. Whenever you sign an agreement, make sure that you retain the right to use your publication or presentation for professional purposes in the future. Then, in subsequent publications – including your thesis/dissertation/project – you should clarify which parts were previously published and where (e.g., "Chapter 3 originally appeared in full citation.").
Standard Practice in Your Discipline: Different disciplines have different norms and expectations regarding publishing student work. Consult your advisor!
Congratulations! You've successfully defended your thesis/dissertation/project and you're ready to submit it to ProQuest, as required by the U of A Graduate School. Be aware that the University Libraries makes all U of A theses/dissertations/projects available in the open access digital repository ScholarWorks@UARK where they are directly available to anyone, anywhere with an internet connection unless they are under embargo. [For an explanation of the ProQuest publishing settings and how they translate into levels of accessibility in ScholarWorks@UARK, see Publishing Settings Explained.