This Year’s Student Research Conference Expands . . . and Goes Virtual 

The April 28 Student Research Conference brings together students representing all schools and colleges, including the disciplines, left to right, of art, atmospheric sciences, archaeology and forensic science. (Photos by Patrick Dodson and Brian Busher)

ALBANY, N.Y. (April 14, 2020) — The Center of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (CURCE) planned a major change this year in the format for its student research event — but the change turned out to be a lot more major than anticipated. And that may turn out to be a good thing.

The original plan was to transform the 17-year-old Undergraduate Research Conference, set for April 28, into the Student Research Conference by welcoming for the first time presentations by graduate students. That was part of a plan by instituted by the Provost’s Office to expand the conference into a much larger UAlbany Showcase.

The Showcase plan was put on hold for this year by the COVID-19 outbreak. For the Student Research Conference, the outbreak caused the more than 200 registered conference participants to move their presentations of research and creative endeavors from Campus Center West to the cyberworld — a shared virtual showcase of achievements.

The 168 demonstrations, posters and other projects scheduled will be available for synchronous and asynchronous viewing via CURCE’s Blackboard Organization page, now being developed.

“As it turns out, the virtual conference paves the way for increased participation in future years through an online component,” said Marilyn Masson, professor of Anthropology, who is on the CURCE team organizing this year’s conference. “We view this as an important expansion that may be continued annually, complementing the in-person event on campus.”

JoAnne Malatesta, interim vice provost and dean for Undergraduate Education, said she is “incredibly proud of the work being done by the CURCE team to provide our students with an opportunity to share their research and creative endeavors. We’re thrilled that CURCE was able to restructure the format to include graduate students, and that it has done an outstanding job converting the conference format from a traditional in-person event to a fully online experience.”

Masson noted that the conference is “the only campus-wide event that brings together student researchers, scholars and creative artists from all schools and universities.”

The CURCE conference organizing team includes Deana Vitrano, MA ’19, who will receive her PhD in cognitive psychology in May, and Hayley Peterson, a graduating senior double majoring in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Human Biology. They have helped to plan this year’s conference for several years in a row, and are presenting their own research in the 2020 event — a first for graduate student Vitrano.

“We are thrilled to have undergraduate and graduate students presenting together for the first time,” said Vitrano. “Students of all academic levels often work together on projects, and the student conference now bridges the gap between undergraduate and graduate student populations. In that way, it better showcases all the amazing work being conducted at UAlbany. It will be a great way to connect the UAlbany community during this difficult time.”

The awardees will include approximately 20 winners of the Presidential Award for Undergraduate Research for 2020, who would have been recognized in an award ceremony this year as part of an overall University Showcase — a larger series of events short-circuited by COVID-19.

“While we are disappointed that we are not able to move forward with the University Showcase this year,” said Malatesta, “we look forward to participating in the years ahead and further expanding CURCE’s ability to highlight the outstanding research and creative accomplishments of all of our students.”

For information on how to attend this virtual conference and support UAlbany student researchers, email [email protected] or check the CURCE conference link provided above.

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