Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
www.speakerobrien.com
Contact: Jeanne H. Schmedlen
(717) 705-1894
jschmedlen@speakerobrien.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2008
Speaker O’Brien Hosts Second Undergraduate Research Poster Conference at the State Capitol
HARRISBURG -- Speaker of the House Dennis M. O’Brien (R-Philadelphia) today welcomed some of Pennsylvania’s brightest and most talented college and university students to the Capitol for a poster conference entitled Undergraduate Research at the Capitol – Pennsylvania.
Eighty-six undergraduate students and their advisors from 25 Pennsylvania colleges and universities presented their research in the East Wing of the Main Capitol. Their projects addressed research questions in the physical sciences, information technology, social sciences and humanities.
“The analytical skill that went into these undergraduate projects is a tribute to the caliber of students who attend our state’s colleges and universities and a reflection of the dedication, professionalism and care of the faculty who mentor these students.” O’Brien said.
Each participating student created a poster that reflects the answer to a research question. During the day-long event, the students stood by their posters and explained their research and findings to legislators, staff, lobbyists and Capitol visitors. They also went to the House chamber where O’Brien introduced the students and their faculty advisors and administrators to the Members of the House of Representatives.
The poster conference has two goals: to demonstrate that engaging in systematic research as an undergraduate is important to the educational development of college students, and to show that undergraduate students can produce significant research that can help local communities, the Commonwealth and the nation.
Examples of the research include topics such as: Impact of Mechanical Heart Valves on Blood Element Damage," “GIS-Based Analysis of Stream Bank Erosion and Invasive Riparian Vegetation in Brodhead Watershed, Northeastern Pennsylvania,” “SML – An Object-Oriented Software Model of an Abstract Computer,” and “Effects of Strengthening Families Program on Youth Future Perspective and Intervention-Targeted Parenting Behaviors.”
Dr. Carl Salter of Moravian College was the lead organizer of the event, assisted by representatives from Penn State Hazleton, Widener University, Cabrini College, Indiana University of PA, Westminster College, Dickinson College, Carnegie Mellon University and Susquehanna University.
In addition to Speaker O’Brien, the event was sponsored by the Legislative Office for Research Liaison (LORL), the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP) and the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU).
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