UAlbany Symposium Showcases High School Science Student Research Statewide

Samuel Bowser, research scientist at the School of Public Health and the Wadsworth Center in Albany, will address students at the 30th Annual Upstate New York Junior Science and Humanities Symposium

High school students’ research projects will be judged by scientists and industry experts, including representatives from UAlbany, GE Global Research, and Albany Molecular Research.

ALBANY, N.Y. (March 2, 2015) -- More than 600 science research students and teachers from forty-two schools across New York State will meet at the 30th Annual Upstate New York Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (Upstate NY JSHS), Thursday and Friday, March 12 and 13, at the University at Albany. The event is among the most prestigious fora in Upstate New York for students presenting original research in a symposium-style format.

Dr. Samuel Bowser, research scientist for the Wadsworth Center in Albany and a new member of UAlbany's School of Public Health as a research assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, will give a talk on the “Ancient Submarine Forests – Trees with more Bite than Bark,” at the Symposium’s awards dinner, March 12, at 6 p.m. in the Ballroom of the University’s Campus Center.

The Upstate NY JSHS is co-directed by Daniel Wulff, UAlbany professor of biology, Donald Orokos, UAlbany professor of biology and associate director of UAlbany’s Forensic Biology Program, and Tim Lance, a UAlbany Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus (mathematics) and president of the New York State Education and Research Network.

The students presenting at the Symposium are finalists from two regional symposia: one in the Capital District at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School and one in Westchester County at John Jay High School. The program has inspired hundreds of students to present their papers at the regional symposia.

The awards dinner follows a full day’s schedule of presentations by students as speakers and poster presenters. The students’ research projects are judged by scientists and industry experts, including representatives from UAlbany, GE Global Research, and Albany Molecular Research. Student finalists from five categories of science are announced during the awards dinner and compete for top honors before another panel of judges on the second day of the Symposium.

UAlbany Professor Linda Krzykowski, Ph.D., an expert in human resource management, organizational behavior and business communication, will present a workshop entitled “Sharing your Research Story: Effective Presentation Skills” during the Symposium’s second day, March 13, at 11 a.m. in the Assembly Hall of the Campus Center.

The Symposium is sponsored by the University at Albany, the Academy of Applied Science, the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force, the American Chemical Society, and corporate sponsors, including Albany Molecular Research, Inc., Capital District Physicians Health Plan, NYS United Teachers, Surpass Chemical, Coca-Cola Refreshments, and Krackeler Scientific, Inc.

The top students will move on to present their research at the 53rd National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, scheduled April 29 – May 2, 2015, in Hunt Valley, Maryland. Those delegated to attend the 53rd National JSHS are invited to present their research in competition for scholarships in seven categories of competition. The top two regional delegates are invited to compete for the Department of Defense (DoD) sponsored scholarships by presenting their research in oral sessions held on Thursday, April 30. All other regional delegates are invited to present their research in poster sessions held on Friday, May 1.

For more information on the Upstate NY JSHS, visit www.albany.edu/jshs/.

Symposium Overview:

Thursday, March 12, 2015:

12:15 p.m. – Ballroom: Opening remarks by University at Albany Distinguished Teaching Professor and Associate Dean John Delano, and JSHS Director and UAlbany Professor of Biology Daniel Wulff

1:00 - 4:32 p.m. – Concurrent sessions of students’ research projects are presented to teams of judges

4:35 – 6:00 p.m. – Posters on display for judging

6:00 p.m. – Awards dinner with keynote address by Dr. Samuel Bowser

Friday, March 13, 2015:

9:00 a.m. – Ballroom: Presentations by the five finalists

10:45 a.m-12 p.m. – Workshop for participants

Noon – Awards luncheon and announcement of five final winners and scholarship awards

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