CUTLINE: Student Jessica Donovan of Vincennes, left, discusses her research poster pertaining to humpback whales with Rene LaMontagna, VU Biology Department Chair.

VINCENNES, Ind. - Vincennes University hosted the sixth annual College of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Undergraduate Research Showcase on December 4, on the second floor of Updike Hall.

The showcase provided students the opportunity to display their research posters in ecology and evolution, oceanography, weather and climate, and animal agriculture.

Students welcomed those in attendance and explained in great detail the various projects. The work of more than 40 students was displayed.

“The purpose is to give students the experience of creating a presentation of research that they do, which is a very common thing that scientists do to communicate their ideas,” said Curt Coffman, dean of the College of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics.

“It gives them experience that they may need once they become a professional or a grad student or as a junior or senior, if they have to go to a conference and make a presentation. For some of the classes they are individual research projects where they have to research a topic. Other classes they are doing actual experimental research and are presenting that research just like you would as a scientist at a conference.

“The benefit is they’re learning communication skills. Not just how to put a poster together. They have to stand by their poster and talk to strangers, and tell them about their information. That one-on-one speaking is a skill that is invaluable for our students. The more of those kind of experiences we give them as first-year and second-year students they will be so much more prepared when they transfer because most schools are not having freshman and sophomore students doing these kind of things.”

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MARCIA MARTINEZ, University Life Reporter & Sports Information Director
812-888-4164 office, 314-599-1519 cell, VUNews@vinu.edu, mmartinez@vinu.edu
VINCENNES UNIVERSITY, Department of University Relations, www.vinu.edu/news/newsroom