A multitude of people trickled through the Clark Student Center Atrium to observe research and creative presentations from undergraduate students and faculty members April 25.
Members of Enhancing Undergraduate Research Endeavors and Creative Activities and other students, who were not directly involved with EURECA, showed their work throughout the day. Undergraduate and graduate students paired themselves with a faculty mentor to forge a partnership collaborating to answer a question, make music or create art.
The day began with a variety of oral presentation topics in the CSC Comanche Suite, ranging from student engagement on campus to a compression device for medical imaging.
Students presented projects and displayed poster presentations in the CSC Atrium.
“I have been doing my research on cancer treatment for about two years,” Donnica James, senior in chemistry and biology, said. “I have been interested in lab research for years. I always do better in the labs than in the classes. This process helped me develop independent work ethics, with the outcome strictly being based on the research that I accomplished.”
Graduation does not deter some of the 103 student researchers from continuing their research on these projects to further gain knowledge and experience for graduate school or their career paths.
Gamal Francis, senior in biology, said the four weeks spent on his research on integrating a more efficient way to carry out thermal biology using 3-D printed models was a stepping-stone for his future career plans.
“Me and my mentor Charles Watson will work through the summer to further our knowledge and get this paper published,” Francis said. “This gives me experience and exposure to what I plan on doing in my career. It also adds to my resume.”
The 11 oral presentations and 24 poster presentations ended a week long Celebration of Scholarships. Events began April 22, at the Fain Fine Arts Building lawn with the unveiling of a recycling design campaign for recycling bins in Wichita Falls. Performance art expressions took place April 23, in the CSC Atrium. On April 24, featured faculty and graduate students gave oral and poster presentations and the University Singers performed in the CSC Shawnee Theatre.
