[gallery] Twelfth Annual Undergraduate Research Conference Showcases Student Talents

The College of Staten Island showcased the rich and diverse talents of its students at the 12th Annual Undergraduate Conference on Research, Scholarship, and Performance, held in the Center for the Arts.

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With an emphasis on collaboration between students and talented and dedicated faculty mentors, the Conference featured 96 research posters, seven oral presentations, and six panel discussions, as well as performances from 83 Music and Dance students, and works by 33 students of the Visual Arts.

The Conference began in the morning with a well-attended chamber music recital that showcased some of the exceptional talents of the College’s Music students.

The afternoon started with panel discussions and paper presentations on the International Committee for Political Prisoners and, for the second year in a row, a Plenary Session that included remarks from Interim President Dr. William J. Fritz and Interim Provost/Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Fred Naider. In his remarks, Dr. Fritz emphasized the importance of having an excellent mentor, citing the examples of both Charles Darwin and his own studies, where a mentor had a profound, positive effect. Dr. Fritz then focused on the Conference, saying, “one of our signature programs is today’s Conference on Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Performance. This gives our students the edge in getting into graduate and professional programs and jobs.” That edge, according to Dr. Fritz, resulted in a CSI graduate being accepted to Harvard, another CSI student winning a prestigious Goldwater Scholarship, and a recent Chemistry graduate being accepted to six of the top doctoral programs in the nation.

The Plenary Session concluded with electrifying performances from CSI Dance students and the CSI Gospel Choir.

For the remainder of the Conference, attendees were free to explore the poster presentations in the Atrium and East and West lounges, with the chance to engage the College’s student researchers about their work. In addition, there were more paper presentations, another session with the CSI Gospel Choir, art exhibits from both Spring Group Art and Sculpture students, and another opportunity to experience CSI’s Dance students.

The Conference concluded with an exciting concert by the CSI Big Band and Jazz Reperatory Combo, led by Professor Michael Morreale.

This year, CSI Undergraduate Research Awards supported 20 of the Conference’s research projects. The Conference was sponsored by the CSI Division of Academic Affairs, with funding from the CSI Office of Alumni Relations.