Second Annual BCAS Celebration of Undergraduate Research & Creativity

Click below to see photos from the event!

Visit our event photo gallery

On April 9, led by Dr. Nidaa Makki, associate dean of research and graduate studies, the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences (BCAS) hosted its second annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research & Creativity—a showcase of the diverse and exceptional research and creative projects that were completed by more than 50 students in various fields of study.

The afternoon featured various activities, including poster sessions, oral presentations, art and multimedia exhibits, dance and musical performances, and poetry readings, all of which were judged by university leadership, college faculty and staff. The event provided an opportunity for undergraduate students to present their work, receive feedback from their peers and faculty across different areas of study and engage in interdisciplinary discussions.

"Undergraduate research and creativity play a vital role in the development of our students' critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills. It is an opportunity for them to apply the knowledge and theories learned in the classroom to real-world problems, and to make meaningful contributions to their field of study. It also prepares them for their future careers, whether in academia, industry, or the public sector. Through research and creative projects, students gain hands-on experience, develop their skills, and build their confidence." - Dean Mitchell S.McKinney

A Broad Spectrum of Work

The poster sessions featured over 30 posters from eight disciplines, including biology, chemistry, criminal justice, education, geosciences, political sciences, psychology, and statistics. The posters displayed the students' research findings and were available to answer questions and provide additional information to a round of judges.

In the center of the poster sessions were 29 presentations of creative work from areas such as graphic design, painting, ceramics, writing, photography and electronic media. Performing on stage were seven musical performances and one dance ensemble. The flash talks and spoken word readings featured five presentations from different disciplines such as communication and English.

See You Next Year!

The Celebration of Undergraduate Research & Creativity was a resounding success and a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, remarked McKinney. He noted that it highlighted the importance of undergraduate research and creativity and demonstrated the value of Buchtel College in fostering a culture of excellence, belonging and innovation.

“When people think about research and creativity at Akron, they almost immediately think about the work of our faculty. But the life’s blood of these activities in BCAS is the work of our undergraduates, who collaborate with the faculty and graduate students in every aspect of the creative process. This event was an opportunity to just highlight the amazing work of the undergraduate students across our college.” - Dr. Nidaa Makki

Special thanks to our VIP judging panel: Elyse Ball, Esq.; Dr. Suzanne B Bausch; Kim Cole; Dr. Aimee DeChambeau; Tammy Ewin; Emily Janoski-Haehlen; Dr. Craig Menzemer; Dr. John Messina; Dr. Gwyneth Price; and Dr. John Wiencek.

• Best Art Exhibit - Maddie McSweeney, electronic media, "Documentation of 'Simply Butter (one pat at a time)'"
• Best Dance Showcase - Molly Bagatto, "Honey, You're Damned"
• Best Music Performance - Scott Kline and UA Trumpet Ensemble, "Conquest"

• Best Spoken Word Presentation - Gwen Bushen, "Plato vs. Aristotle's Ideal Society"
• Best Research Paper - Social Sciences 
  • Cassidy Kuhar (Psychology), "U.S. and French Collaborations in WWII to Select and Classify Aircrew Personnel"
  • Addison Smith (Education), "Healthy Skepticism"

• Best Research Paper - Natural Sciences
  • Hakem Altawil (Biology), "Atp13a2 Mutation Enhances Joint Damage and Triggers Early Onset of Osteoarthritis"
  • Megan Mitchell (Chemistry), "Structure-Property Relationships of Poly(aminoamides)"
  • David Williams (Geosciences), "Textural Comparison of Glomerocrysts in Mafic Magmas from Iceland and Nicaragua"