Research exhibited

The name Hopkins is almost synonymous with the word research. It is our forte. But while graduate and faculty researchers receive a good deal of attention, it should be said that Hopkins undergrads are no strangers to independent projects and working outside of the classroom. In fact, 80 percent of Hopkins undergraduates participate in some form of research project before graduation. Surprisingly, until this year, there has been no place for these students to showcase their work and receive feedback from peers.

The first JHU Undergraduate Research Symposium will be held on Saturday, Dec. 1. A project which stemmed from a discussion of the Neuroscience honor society earlier this year, it is advertised as an event that provides "a friendly environment for students to share their work with the campus community through oral and artistic presentations and can be recognized for their academic achievements."

The group, whose members give 45 minute presentations at honor society meetings, felt that such an event would allow other students the chance to experience recognition for academic efforts and also to give them practice presenting their findings. Such skills may be needed in higher education and eventual careers.

Co-chair of the honor society, David Yu has put in an immense amount of work coordinating the event and believes it is one that Hopkins needs.

The senior feels the symposium is "a way to recognize students for their work outside of class in a comfortable atmosphere" and that such an "outlet was lacking" at Hopkins. Other honor society members Jennifer Kuo, Nayhong Lee and Mike Yassa also conducted valuable legwork for the event, talking to the academic departments and handling publicity. Students interested in participating in the event submitted applications via the Internet. Though Yu has not sorted through all of them yet, he expects a volume of about 20 to 30 participants.

Research at Hopkins is mainly associated with the sciences. However, another focus of the upcoming symposium is the unification of all of Hopkins' academic fields. Yu stresses that the symposium is not biased and will attempt to display work, completed and in progress, from humanities students as well.

Yu also emphasized that while most of the symposium's presenters will be upperclassmen, freshman and sophomores are urged to attend. As a part of the audience, younger students can not only encourage and show support for presenters, but also learn what type of opportunities are available to them during their years at Hopkins. Several students interviewed said they would consider attending the event for such reasons. Yu is also looking for feedback from such students as a way to improve the event in the future.

Freshman Sarah Breeding, has already looked into part time research positions at the Hopkins Medical Campus and is looking forward to eventually conducting her own projects.

"It will be good for people that have never done research," she said. "It might give them an opportunity to see what other people have started already."

Similarly, freshman Kelly Wang said, "It's a good idea to go to something like this to see how research is conducted and what you might want to do in the future."

Encouragement and enthusiasm from the school administration and various academic departments was also instrumental in the coordination of this symposium. Their financial and popular support indicates that the event may become a Hopkins tradition so long as undergraduate interest matches that of the school's faculty.

The Undergraduate Research Symposium will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and consist of a morning reception followed by individual 15 minute presentations. During their allotted time participants can share their work in a variety of ways including a traditional question and answer format. There will be a keynote speaker at 5 p.m., where beverages and deserts will be provided.