Most Level 8’s include a capstone module on independent undergraduate research (UR), whereby students are facilitated through one-on-one academic supervision to solve a problem. Whilst the format can vary across disciplines, the advantages of the final year project (FYP) remain the same, fostering key graduate attributes in critical thinking, problem solving and research dissemination. The FYP is a core assessment tool, providing demonstratable proof of programme learning outcomes. The Science Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Network (est. 2016) strives to highlight the value of UR through our annual student SURE Conference and journal (SURE-J). We have recently expanded into Europe through the Erasmus+ project Posters in Brussels, highlighting the utility of UR to also promote student advocacy. The use of generative AI is now widespread amongst students, leading to concern regarding their capacity to independently synthesize information or think critically. UR provides an opportunity, now more important than ever in this age of misinformation, to teach students fact checking skills. Moreover, it can be used to force students to produce and report upon genuinely authentic and bespoke work independently. Despite frequently stated research ambitions, the resourcing of UR remains insufficient across the TU/IoT Sector. The time is now to change this.