Campus News

UAlbany Emphasizes Undergraduate Research

(May 10, 2006)

The third annual Honors Conference was held April 27-28 in the Life Sciences Building. The conference featured students who are a part of the undergraduate research initiative as well as students enrolled in the honors programs of their academic major. Many were presenting their honors thesis. The research program provides mentored research opportunities for freshman University Scholars.

During the two-day session, students gave presentations across a wide range of topics. Students in departmental honors programs, Presidential Scholars, Frederick Douglass Scholars, and College Scholars were eligible to submit proposals. Participants shared their work during a 20-minute presentation or as a poster to be shown during the conference.

Vice Provost Sue Faerman welcomed participants to the auditorium on Thursday, and Provost Susan Herbst gave the opening remarks.

Sessions were on: philosophy, politics, and religion; global interventions; government, politics, and civil society; limit of political authority and power; decoding terrorism and the war on terror; social scripts; the creative spirit; cultures of cyberspace; hands-on science; political and political discourse; cultural and social scripts; decoding popular culture; and dangerous politics.

The conference ended with a closing ceremony and with remarks by Associate Dean for Honors Vivien Ng and Interim Vice President for Research Lynn Videka.

"This year's conference has involved more students than before," said Ng. "I attribute the success of the conference to our students' willingness to present their work, as well as to participate as moderators and to be a supportive audience for the presentations. I would also like to thank the faculty mentors and honors theses directors for taking the time to guide students through their research and creative projects."

The conference was co-sponsored by the offices of: Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, Associate Dean for Honors, Vice President for Research, Vice President for Development, and University Auxiliary Services.