Nearly 400 students will present research on topics ranging from detecting explosives to public housing at A & S Symposium

April 9, 2018

Nearly 400 students will present their independent, faculty-mentored research at the University of Richmond’s School of Arts & Sciences 33rd annual Student Symposium April 20.

Students presenting at the symposium represent 29 disciplines across the arts, humanities, sciences and social sciences. Their research spans a wide variety of topics, from studying sustainable agriculture in the rainforest and potential natural cures for cancer to studying social constructions of masculinity and the economics of auctions.

The research projects are presented in the form of poster presentations, oral presentations, performances and art exhibitions.

“The Symposium is similar to an academic conference or discipline-specific symposium and aims to give our students an opportunity to learn how to translate their research to a broad audience in a professional setting,” said School of Arts & Sciences Dean Patrice Rankine. “This event also showcases faculty-mentored research opportunities, which play a signature role for our community of learners in A&S.”

Research highlights include:

Shira Smillie, an American studies and Spanish double major, studied public housing development by telling the story of what it is like to be a black renter in 1950s Harlem.

Shaina D’Souza, a biochemistry and molecular biology major, was inspired by her research on symbiotic bacteria to create art with microbes.

Cristina Peters, an art and marketing double major, created an exhibition of underwater photography to present her research on humans’ impact on the oceans.

Arjun Jaini, a chemistry major, developed sensors that use halogen bonding to detect powerful explosives.

For more information and a detailed list of presenters and topics, visit the University of Richmond website. All sessions are free and open to the public.

The Symposium is part of a day-long celebration of academic and creative achievement in A&S, which includes an Honors Convocation awards ceremony at 11 a.m. Student research will be highlighted from 1-6 p.m. in the Jepson Alumni Center, with additional presentations and performances in the Modlin Center for the Arts and Perkinson Recital Hall.

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