Symposium highlights student research

NEW PALTZ — Research papers and posters on biology, computer science, chemistry, foreign languages, geology, communication, psychology and sociology will be featured at the annual Student Research Symposium at the State University of New York at New Paltz’s on Friday, April 19, from 2 to 7 p.m. at the College Terrace.

This is an event in which students are acknowledged for their hard work on independent research under the supervision of a faculty member.

Maureen Morrow, assistant professor of biology at SUNY New Paltz, reestablished the Student Research Symposium in 1995. At that time, participation was limited to science students. With the help of Gerald Benjamin, the dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the symposium was expanded to all departments.

“I think it would be sad if all of the hard work that goes into a research project would end up as a file in a faculty member’s cabinet,” said Morrow. “This symposium allows faculty, administrators and peers to recognize and learn about the students’ independent work.”

The day of presentations will include a keynote address by Stephen O’Rourke, the valedictorian of New Paltz’ 1991 graduating class. He is an assistant professor of psychology at the College of New Rochelle. O’Rourke earned his master’s in psychology from SUNY New Paltz in 1994, and his doctorate from SUNY Albany in 2000. He currently teaches classes in personality psychology and statistics, and is conducting research on several topics, including the adult attachment process, which concerns qualitative differences in how people form bonds with intimate others into adulthood. He will discuss his current research in his address.

The symposium runs from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Terrace Restaurant, and will include a light dinner. It is free and open to the public.

A schedule of the presenters and their topics is available online at www.newpaltz.edu/srs.