Event highlights student work

Second annual symposium attracts more than 130 to enter submissions

BY JENNY J. LIN
Staff Writer

The second annual Undergraduate Symposium for Scholarly and Creative work, sponsored by the vice provosts for Academic Programs and Research was held Wednesday on Trousdale Parkway, highlighting the works of more than 130 students.
The Undergraduate Symposium for Scholarly and Creative Work "provides undergraduate with the unique opportunity to exhibit and share examples of their significant research and creativity with the university community," said Katharine Harrington, director of undergraduate programs.
This year, the event had more than twice the number of participants last year. Categories include arts, humanities, social sciences, life sciences, practical sciences, mathematics and engineering, professional and applied disciplines and a special judges award for interdisciplinary work. Students must also seek a member of the faculty to sponsor their work.
Students entered their works in the symposium for various reasons. Some hope to get feedback from faculty while others have goals of someday becoming researchers.
"I entered my work because I thought it would be exciting to present my senior thesis," said Rebecca Ryan, a senior majoring in psychology and first-place winner of the social sciences category.
Devin Mitchell, a senior majoring in biology started her research last year. "It is a good way to show other students that there is a significant amount of undergraduate researchers. It's also a good time for students to get feedback from the faculty about what to highlight on the poster."
Meanwhile, Suchitra Ananth-narayan, a sophomore majoring in biochemistry, said, "I want to be a research scientist as well as a professor so giving a presentation helps me work on my communication skills. Doing the poster really made me learn a lot more about my work and what I did."
Kim Luu, a senior majoring in International relations said that "It's exciting because not many students know what honors students do. We get to share our information with the rest of USC. It's our chance to shine. "
Students present their work in form of poster, electronic media, and art exhibit. winners are chosen in reach category. first place winners are awarded with $500 and second place winners receive $250. Over $5000 were given away this year.
"Students are encouraged to dialogue about their work with an audience," said Peter Kreysa, research analyst in the Office of the Vice Provost.
During 10 a.m. to 2 p.m ., there were poster sessions where a minimum of three judges asked participants questions about their works. Judges are comprised of USC faculty members with a specialty in each of the six categories.
Students are judged not only on their work, but also judged on their ability to explain their work to others.
"The ability of each participant to articulate their work plays a significant role on the judging process," Kreysa said.
Then at 3 p. m., Neil Sullivan, vice provost for research, presented the awards at Bing Theatre.
Winners in each category include arts: Ian Dale, first place and Christopher Myers, second place; humanities: Rebecca Zak, Jennifer Campbell and Dara Purvis, first place and Eve Troeh, second place; social sciences: Rebecca Ryan, first place, and Paul Tillberg, second place; life sciences: Thuzar Shin, first place, and Genevieve Wortzman, second place; physical sciences, mathematics and engineering: Mohammed Hossain, first place and Janet Tew and Jennifer Van Den Driessche, second place; professional and applied disciplines: Darlene Duran, first place, and Sami Khoury, second place; and Judges' special interdisciplinary award: Lindsay Harrison, first place, and Paymann Moin, second place.
Officials expect the undergraduate symposium to be even larger next year, expecting even more participants.

Copyright 2000 by the Daily Trojan. All rights reserved.
This article was published in Vol. 139, No. 67 (Thursday, April 27, 2000), beginning on page 1 and ending on page 13.