重口味SM

Research by undergraduate students on display during fall poster fair

Woman using a laptop using the SpatialChat platform
The fall edition of the Research Opportunities Program聽poster fair, held virtually, showcased 44 projects on a wide variety of topics from psychology and poetry to agriculture, physiology and chemistry.

While lectures and study groups are a key part of undergraduate life, students in the 重口味SM鈥檚 Faculty of Arts & Science also have the opportunity to participate in research as part of their education. 

Aimed at second and third-year students, the  (ROP) enables students to participate in a professor鈥檚 research project for course credit and culminates in students presenting their findings at special mini-conferences known as poster fairs.

The fairs also allow students to develop networking skills and share advice about their research journeys with other undergraduates.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not only an incredible opportunity for students to share the work they鈥檝e been doing, but one that allows those without any research experience to learn about the kinds of projects that might interest them,鈥 says poster fair co-ordinator Sania Hameed, an experiential learning officer with the Faculty of Arts & Science.

There are currently two ROP poster fairs 鈥 one held in the spring and another in the fall. The recent fall edition, held on Sept. 29, showcased 44 projects 鈥 participants used posters as well as videos as tools to communicate their research 鈥 from a wide variety of disciplines with the aim of presenting findings from research undertaken over the summer. The fair was held virtually and attendees used the SpatialChat platform to navigate their way among presentations on psychology, poetry, chemistry, agriculture, physiology and a wide variety of other topics. The platform permits users to move easily between presentations by means of roving avatars.

鈥淧eople really like it 鈥 it鈥檚 such a great way to emulate that in-person experience of dropping by a poster,鈥 says Hameed. 鈥淥ur feedback showed that it really supported visitors in being able to engage with each other 鈥 not only in their learning, but in making connections as well.鈥

Lauren Omoto

Now in her second year at University College, life sciences student Lauren Omoto said she relished the chance to present research she鈥檚 been conducting in the lab of Derek van der Kooy, a professor in the department of molecular genetics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine. 鈥淚鈥檝e always had an interest in molecular biology,鈥 she says, 鈥渁nd I鈥檝e been really excited to work with stem cells because of all the therapeutic advances being made in that area.鈥

Along with other researchers, Omoto is trying to find a pancreatic stem cell that differentiates into three lineages: endocrine, exocrine and ductal. This would be deemed a 鈥渢rue鈥 stem cell 鈥 one that could assist in the repair of pancreatic tissue injured by disease or other forms of trauma.

鈥淭hus far we鈥檝e seen co-localization of two out of the three cells, which is very encouraging,鈥 she says.

William Wynne

Second-year student William Wynne, who is pursuing a double major in global health and bioethics, delivered a presentation titled 鈥淭he Obesity Epidemic and Urban Agriculture: Possibilities for Systemic Change in Canada.鈥

鈥淚 decided to look at different socieconomic communities and analyze how we can improve health outcomes within them,鈥 says Wynne, a member of Trinity College. 鈥淚 examined urban agriculture鈥檚 potential for doing that, and for reducing expenditures in the Canadian health-care system.鈥

Wynne also explored how healthy food choices and the cultivation of measures such as community gardens could assist with these objectives.

Wynne says that events such as the poster fair are critical showcases for fresh new ideas emanating from undergraduate research.

鈥淵ou can learn in two ways,鈥 he says. 鈥淚n the first, you just take it all in. But I believe that undergrads also need to voice their own thoughts and opinions, and to nurture creative thinking and skills like public speaking. With the ROP, not only do you get to build knowledge 鈥 you get to build confidence that you can carry on to graduate school or the professional world.鈥

Omoto agrees.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 expect to be working in a lab this early, and on such an interesting project,鈥 she says. 鈥淎nd I鈥檓 really grateful to know that presenting my research and findings could kickstart opportunities for others.鈥

 

Arts & Science