Contact: Kimberly Osborne (304) 766-3363 kosborne@wvstateu.edu INSTITUTE, W.Va. – West Virginia State University (WVSU) held its 19th annual Research Symposium on campus Friday, April 25, to share information and celebrate the scientific research being conducted by students, including those participating in the American Electric Power (AEP) Research Rookies Program, which provides hands-on research opportunities for undergraduates.
“The symposium provides a public forum for our students to share their scientific research with a wider audience,” said Dr. Katherine Harper, Dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and a Professor of Biology. “When students become part of a research group, it not only reinforces their scientific skills but makes them feel like part of a family, so this is also a celebration of their hard work and accomplishments.”
Led by a keynote address on organic chemistry from Dr. David R. Williams, professor of Chemistry at Indiana University, Bloomington, the daylong event featured a poster session by the AEP Research Rookies participants. The program began last year through AEP funding that launched the WVSU AEP Foundation Full STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture and Mathematics) Ahead Program. Eight Research Rookies presented posters and shared their experiences being part of the program.
“It was really exciting being a Research Rookie this year,” said freshman Emily Peal, a Biology major. “You really don’t know how to do scientific methods until you’re hands-on with them, so it was fun and educational to be able to do that through this project.”
Other graduate and undergraduate students participated in a student research session, including honors students, Biotechnology master’s degree candidates and recipients of the West Virginia Space Grant Consortium Scholarship. The event culminated with an induction ceremony for Beta Kappa Chi Honor Society members.
Follow on Facebook and Twitter .