The Integrated Science Center lobby was filled with professors and students presenting their research and studies (pictured above). The event took place on Friday Nov. 9 and served to celebrate the scholarly endeavors of Geneseo students while encouraging younger students to pursue research (Malachy Dempsey/managing editor).
Students and professors gathered to listen to research presentations co-researched by students and professors of the biology department at the Research Symposium on Nov. 9.
The Integrated Science Center lobby—crowded with intrigued listeners and students’ oak tags that were covered in simplified analyses of data—sparked curiosity in the individuals who attended the event.
With a diverse range of research topics, from studies on ecology to research focused on retinogenesis, the undergraduate students exhibited an advanced understanding of their different studies and answered many participant questions.
Among the many student researchers, biology major senior Trisha Maini addressed her experience in facilitating research with Biology Department Chair Robert O’Donnell.
“Dr. O’Donnell is a really amazing professor here. I had him my freshman year and I was really inspired by him … I knew he did cancer research because I used to walk through the halls when I was a freshman and see his posters everywhere,” Maini said. “I approached him my freshman year [to do research] … and he’s taught me so much since then and I really am inspired by him day by day.”
Professors in the biology department, as well as colleagues and students of the school, exhibited tremendous engagement as they read about the various studies conducted and analyzed the concluding results.
In addition to presenting their scientific research experiment studies, these undergraduate students hoped to be role models to younger students in encouraging passion and leadership. Maini reflected what she believed the Symposium intended to offer to people working at or attending the college.
“We wish to show other kids our research, our other colleagues, other professors here, what we do,” Maini said. “[We hope to] inspire freshmen also to come and see what we put on … to kind of show the freshmen what they could join if they were to ask professors for help.”
In addition to the many professors and colleagues who attended, students who had a genuine inclination to learn about their peers’ findings also joined. Anthropology major senior Lorenzo Rodriguez discussed his belief in the application of an education used both inside and also outside of the classroom.
“I think that one the most important aspects of undergraduate education is developing the application of your education within inside the classroom [and] outside the classroom. And so, watching the young students present, my peers present, on their research is, I think inspiring as well as very intriguing and educational for me,” Rodriguez said. “The more and more I learn and I come and I listen and watch some of these presentations, it’s helping me to understand some important aspects of life.”
Biology major junior Evan Burr conducted his study on ecology, specifically on the horticulture of plant species. He worked alongside assistant professor of biology Suann Yang who was previously researching ecology plant areas. Burr briefly discussed his research and analytical process in learning about the plant topic and their specific niches.
“For my project, we have 136 plants labeled … in the arboretum that I go out every week to do a count of how many fruits are on them. Using those numbers of the ripe fruit, I find when they’re fruiting compared to other species.” Burr said. “[I] analyze the different niches that they might be in to see if the native and invasive plants are competing with each other … the process is really about getting data, collecting your data and then sitting down and analyzing and seeing what you can find from all those numbers you collected.”
These biology professors and student researchers undoubtedly demonstrated a passion for these scientific research study areas. Hopefully, others will seek out research as an enjoyable activity, further encouraging other students to participate in this discipline.