Friday, Sept. 19 marked Azusa Pacific’s 8th Annual Fall Research Day, an opportunity for students in the Department of Biology and Chemistry to present the results of their summer research projects. The event ran from 5-9:30 p.m. and featured two one-hour oral sessions in Perry Lecture Hall, separated by the poster session and dinner in the Segerstrom Atrium.
Seating filled quickly, and many stood in the back or sat on the ground, the full lecture hall buzzing with the excitement of science students and faculty alike. Students’ oral presentations and poster displays showcased detailed work, with subject matter ranging from cancer to termites. As the event organizer and associate professor in the department, Kathleen Tallman explained that Research Day is designed to prepare presenters for graduate school and beyond.
“It’s challenging yourself to think beyond where you’re at,” Tallman said.
According to Tallman, presenters at the event varied widely in experience. Some participants just started their research last summer, while others have been conducting inquiries for 3-4 years in working closely with a specific faculty member in the department. For students who have yet to participate in the research community, Annual Fall Research Day represents an ideal opportunity for interested individuals to connect with faculty members regarding a variety of scientific fields, officials said.
Each of the oral sessions included four 15-minute presentations in which students shared PowerPoints illustrating and analyzing key features of their projects. During the poster session, presenters set up their visuals around the circumference of the Segerstrom Atrium, allowing attendees to independently browse posters and stop by the ones that interested them. Questions prompted presenters to provide a condensed version of their research projects, highlighting interesting factors and answering questions.
Though attended predominantly by those involved with the Department of Biology and Chemistry, the event allows non-science majors to widen their perspective and enjoy the academic diversity APU has to offer, said senior biology major Sarah O’Dell, who presented her third Research Day poster.
“There’s always a different linguistic world associated with each discipline, but I think one of the things that’s so great about APU is that they’ll let you cross those borders and get involved in different worlds,” O’Dell said.
Hoping to strengthen her research skills and prepare for medical school, senior biology major Reade Tillman began her inquiry summer 2013. The culture of the research world can be intimidating at times; however, the supportive faculty advisors and peers within the APU research community have allowed her to gain confidence and think critically, Tillman said. Most of all, she values the impact of the research process on her personal development as an effective communicator.
“I think that’s a very practical skill in whatever you do, is to be able to tell someone on the street about what you do and why it matters,” said Tillman.
Sophomore biology major Rebecca Allen expressed a deep appreciation for the hard work and intellect of this year’s presentations.
“I enjoyed the event because I have so much respect for my peers, and I think that everyone in the Biology and Chemistry Department has something incredible to offer,” Allen said.
At the close of the night, awards and gift cards were given for two poster projects and two oral presentations. In the poster category, judges commended the posters of Karina Morales and the team of Roxy Valles and Lauren Solis. Tyler Laird and Jane Huang received awards for their oral presentations.