ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA- 麻豆原创 hosted their 19th Annual Student Symposium for the 2024 Spring Semester on Wednesday, April 10 at The Dunn Center. The Symposium included student oral presentations, guest speaker, Meredith Gringle, and concluded with a student poster presentation.
Co-Coordinator, Dr. Heather Louch, shares that the Student Symposium started in 2004 as a way for students conducting research to share that research with the university community. It was modeled after a conference, where research is shared either through poster sessions or oral presentations. Louch states, 鈥淧resenting at a conference is something that most students do if they go on to graduate school; with the Symposium, they gain a similar experience and see the full circle of research from developing an inquiry to sharing the results with a broader audience. It has been a successful event for so many years only due to the ongoing support of colleagues at the University.鈥
Louch often asks students what they learned about 鈥渄oing science,鈥 and the admittance of frustration, lack of motivation or interest, and realization of how much work it requires is also paired with how rewarding and fun it can be. Louch responds, 鈥淎ll of these comments encompass the sentiments felt by researchers as they work through their investigations and prepare to share their research, so in that regard, students have experienced first hand the ups and downs of the research investigation while also being able to discuss those findings with the community. What better way to learn about 鈥榙oing science鈥?鈥
Winners of the poster competition have received a certificate and a cash prize courtesy of the School of Mathematics and Sciences (all poster presenters were enrolled in science courses). The winners are as follows (upper and lower designation refers to the course number with 300/400 being the upper-level courses):
1st Place Lower-Level Category:
Dunya Salem –聽Does Texture Protect Caterpillars from Predation?聽聽
2nd Place Lower-Level Category:
Mackenzie Landers, Wesley Owens, Stephanie Valle –聽How Ladybug Spots Affect Predation
1st Place Upper-Level Category:
Chloe Lynch, Kristalyn Minchew, Christian Van Norden –聽The Effects of Acetaminophen and Microplastics on Physella acuta Movement, Growth, and Reproduction
2nd Place Upper-Level Category:
Gracie Wade –聽Investigating and Observing Feline Activity Through the Eyes of Hunger
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Joseph Lane, states, 鈥淭he Student Symposium represents the very best example of North Carolina Wesleyan鈥檚 personal, practical, and purpose-driven approach to education. 聽We are so proud of the students who presented their research and who demonstrated excellent command of their topics when answering questions from the judges, faculty, and community.鈥
