Inaugural BCAS Celebration of Undergraduate Research & Creativity
Let's Celebrate
Dr. Hazel Barton
Months of planning and collaboration led by Dr. Hazel Barton, associate dean of research and graduate studies, culminated on April 6 as the Buchtel College of Arts & Sciences (BCAS) hosted its inaugural Celebration of Undergraduate Research & Creativity -- a showcase of the diverse and exceptional research and creative projects that were completed by almost 60 students in various fields of study.
The afternoon featured various activities, including poster sessions, oral presentations, art exhibits, musical performances, and readings, all of which were judged by university leadership and . The event provided an opportunity for students to receive feedback from their peers and faculty across different areas of study, and engage in interdisciplinary discussions.
“When people think about research and creativity at Akron, they almost immediately think about the work of our faculty,” Barton said. “But the life’s blood of these activities in BCAS is the work of our undergraduates, who collaborate with the faculty and graduate students in every aspect of the creative process. This event was an opportunity to just highlight the amazing work of the undergraduate students across our college.”
Dean Mitchell S. McKinney
"Undergraduate research and creativity play a vital role in the development of our students' critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills," said Dean Mitchell S.McKinney. "It is an opportunity for them to apply the knowledge and theories learned in the classroom to real-world problems, and to make meaningful contributions to their field of study. It also prepares them for their future careers, whether in academia, industry, or the public sector. Through research and creative projects, students gain hands-on experience, develop their skills, and build their confidence."
Members from the Graduate Student Government attended and gave an award to the best poster by a future UA grad student. Also involved were members of The University of Akron Research Foundation (UARF) who were on hand to judge and present awards for Student Innovation.
"The Celebration of Research & Creativity was an incredible opportunity for our team to connect to innovative UA undergraduate and graduate students,” commented Elyse Ball from the UARF. “We were truly impressed by a caliber of the research projects presented by students in a wide range of academic disciplines, so it was an honor to be able to award some of those students."
A Broad Spectrum of Work
The poster sessions featured over 30 posters from various disciplines, including anthropology, biology, chemistry, psychology, geosciences, and statistics. The posters displayed the students' research findings and were available to answer questions and provide additional information to a round of judges.
Marissa Buser
“Sharing my research poster and findings with faculty members and fellow undergraduates was an invaluable experience that helped me develop my communication skills, effectively convey my research, and identify areas that needed more attention," said Marissa Buser, Chemistry major. "Being around other students from diverse areas of study was a fun and inspiring experience, as I learned about their innovative ideas and aspirations for becoming leaders in their fields. It also helped me recognize the importance of different areas of study that I may not be as familiar with. Interacting with the judges and discussing the next steps for my research was an exciting experience that fueled my desire to continue my education and pursue a master's degree. It was a great confidence booster to know that my research was making an impact and had the potential to contribute to the larger scientific community.”
Jordie Lowry
“The experience at the show was amazing," said Jordie Lowry, a graphic design major. "I believe games are meant to bring people together, and I think I accomplished that with Zippy Run. Games are unique in their ability to do so based on their interactive and more immersive nature compared to other types of media. I loved seeing how everyone found enjoyment from my creation and how it fostered pride to be a student at UA. Having Zippy herself play the game was amazing and pretty hilarious. As an aspiring game developer, this is exactly why we make games in the first place; they're meant to be shared with others to bring joy and connect with others regardless of who they are. The experience I had inspires me to continue doing what I love, and I hope it can inspire others, as well.”
In the center of the poster sessions were 14 presentations of creative work from areas such as graphic design, painting, ceramics, photography, mixed-media, film and print. Performing on stage were a bassoon ensemble followed by a saxophone quartet.
The flash talks and spoken word readings featured 5 presentations from different disciplines such as history and psychology. The presentations provided an opportunity for students to showcase their talents in the arts and their performances were a testament to the creativity and artistic abilities.
Gwen Bushen
“This was a very unique and great opportunity to be able to participate in," said Gwen Bushen, English major. "As with any presentation, I felt nervous during it, but I loved the opportunity to share the work that I had done. Seeing what everyone else has been working on was very impressive as well! I loved the range of topics and research presented during the celebration.”
See You Next Year!
“The Celebration of Undergraduate Research & Creativity was a resounding success and a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students,” remarked McKinney. “It highlighted the importance of undergraduate research and creativity and demonstrated the value of Buchtel College in fostering a culture of excellence, belonging and innovation.”
Special thanks to our VIP judging panel: Suzanne B Bausch, Ph.D; Kim Cole; Tammy Ewin; Gwyneth Price; Fedearia Nicholson-Sweval, Ph.D., Elyse Ball, Esq.; Philip A. Allen, Ph.D.; Barry Rosenbaum; Gordon Schorr; and Aimee L DeChambeau, Ph.D.
“We are making this an annual event, and the next celebration is set for April 9, 2024,” declared Barton. “It is just one of the ways we can continuing to support the research and creativity of our undergraduate students.”
Congratulations to the 2023 winners!
Best Research Poster Award
1st Place
3rd Place
- 1st Place – Brooke Campbell and Brittany Moore, Biology (Advisor Dr. Jordan Renna)
Nonlinear sensitivity and response kinetics of zebrafish photoreceptors and bipolar cells
- 2nd Place – Joseph Gaffney, History (Advisor Dr. A. Martin Wainwright) Photo unavailable.
Bloody Sunday, Death and Press – An analysis of newspaper media coverage of the massacre
- 3rd Place – Summer Arnold, Biology (Advisor Dr. Jordan Renna)
Misconception: People are left brained or Right Brained
Best Musical Performance Award
1st Place
2nd Place
- 1st Place – Bassoon Ensemble: Emily Schrembeck, Colin Brockmeyer, Jayden Milan, and Nick Shields, Music (Advisor Ms. Cynthia Cioffari)
Quartet in F Major by Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)
- 2nd Place – Astraea Saxophone Ensemble: Nicole Landrum, Noah Whetstone, Petar Mutic, and Kyrice Brunson, Music (Advisor Dr. Todd Gaffke)
Mountain Roads Movement IV. Chorale
Artist Award
1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
- 1st Place – Ashley Heatherington, Art (Advisor Mr. Drew Ippoliti)
In Plain Sight
- 2nd Place – Elise Helms, Art (Advisor Mr. Matthew Kolodziej)
Back in my body
- 3rd Place – Jordie Lowry, Art, Communications and English (Advisor Mr. Markus Vogl)
Zippy Runs (Mixed media)
Award in Spoken Word or Reading
1st Place – Emily Sesto, Psychology (Independent piece)
Poem: My therapist apologized for missing last week’s session
Best Flash Talk Award
1st Place – Gwen Bushen, English (Advisor Dr. Lisa Rhoades)
Exploring the Unethical Pursuit of the Expansion of the Metaverse
Graduate Student Government – Best poster by a future UA grad student
1st Place (tie)
1st Place (tie)
Tied 1st place:
- Aubrey Powell, Psychology (Advisor, Dr. Toni Bisconti)
Badges and Blush: Gender Expression in Policework
Tied 1st place:
- Reilly Blackwell, Biology (Advisor, Dr. Hazel Barton)
Bending Air & Stone: Novel Speleothems from Cueva Cheve
University of Akron Research Foundation – Student Innovation Award
1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
- 1st Place – Brooke Campbell and Brittany Moore, Biology (Advisor Dr. Jordan Renna)
Nonlinear sensitivity and response kinetics of zebrafish photoreceptors and bipolar cells
- 2nd Place – Marissa Buser, Chemistry (Advisor Dr. Chris Ziegler)
Metal Complexes of Biliazine
- 3rd Place – Zachary Nopper, Biology (Advisor Dr. Henry Astley)
Detecting Hydrodynamic Wake Forces Using a Custom-Built 3D Printed Underwater Force Plate