Undergraduate Student Symposium Kicks Off April 6
Join us on Wednesday, April 6, and Thursday, April 7, for the annual Undergraduate Student Symposium (USS). Hosted by the Farquhar Honors College, the USS is dedicated to showcasing and celebrating the research and creativity of NSU undergraduate students. Projects from all disciplines in the form of poster presentations, oral presentations, and short films will be presented over the two-day symposium.
This year’s symposium marks the return to in-person attendance after last year’s event was hosted completely online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The symposium will kick off with an opening ceremony featuring keynote speaker Kenneth Dawson-Scully, Ph.D., M.Sc, associate provost and vice president for Translational Research and Economic Development (TRED). The main events of the USS include the screening of the narrative, documentary, and avant-garde short films at the film festival reception and the showcasing of student research through poster and oral presentations. A closing ceremony will conclude the symposium with the awarding of prizes to outstanding projects in each category.
“The USS is a wonderful opportunity for students to present their academic work outside of the classroom,” said Weylin Sternglanz, Ph.D., associate professor in the College of Psychology. “The USS mimics many aspects of professional conferences, so this is a fun way for students to gain experience in presenting in a conference-type environment. Many students who present at the USS go on to present versions of that same work as posters or oral presentations at professional conferences within their primary discipline.”
Sternglanz, who is a co-organizer for the USS film festival alongside Marlisa Santos, Ph.D., professor in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences, notes that the film festival is one of his favorite parts of the USS. Those interested in attending the film festival should RSVP HERE by Friday, April 1.
“The Film Festival is a great opportunity for students who have taken film classes (as well as other students who pursue filmmaking as a hobby) to showcase their artistic work,” said Sternglanz. “We have seen a number of students create moving documentaries and hilarious short comedic fictional works, and some of these students even wound up submitting modified versions of their works to professional film festivals in Fort Lauderdale or Miami.”
The USS presents an exciting opportunity for students to develop professional skills beyond the classroom that will give them an edge in their future endeavors while also being recognized by their peers, professors, and other members of the NSU community. The symposium rewards the curiosity and creativity of students, encouraging them to further pursue their interests.
“I am most looking forward to gaining the experience of presenting my very first research project,” said Honors student Colin Pulickathadam, a freshman health informatics and biology major. “I hope to enhance my presentation skills, make new connections and expand my network, and have thorough conversations about [my] project with students and faculty.”
Pulickathadam will be presenting his research comparing the readability of at-home electrocardiograms (ECGs) in a clinic setting with a cardiologist present versus at home with only the patient and their care provider. Look out for his poster presentation during the symposium.
The 2022 USS schedule is as follows:
Wednesday, April 6
- Opening Ceremony: 12-1 p.m. in the Cotilla Gallery in the Alvin Sherman Library (2nd floor)
- Film Festival Reception: 5-7 p.m. (RSVP HERE by Friday, April 1 to attend)
Thursday, April 7
- Poster Presentations: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in the Alvin Sherman Library
- Oral Presentations: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Alvin Sherman Library
- Closing Ceremony: 4-5 p.m. in the PVA Performance Theater
Click here for more information about the USS.
Posted 03/31/22