COLUMBIA, S.C. — Student researchers showcased their scholarship during SCICU’s first-ever virtual Research Symposium held Feb. 18.
The symposium is the culmination of year-long research projects underwritten by the SCICU Undergraduate Student/Faculty Research Program.
In recent years the symposium was held at the Milliken & Company headquarters in Spartanburg, S.C., but COVID-19 precautions dictated it be moved to a virtual setting. This year Converse College served as the host and control center.
Twenty-one SCICU students presented research findings at the virtual symposium. Project topics ranged from biology and chemistry to art, music, and social science (Please click here to read the symposium project list.). Students presented their findings via ten-minute oral presentations with PowerPoint slides or five-minute poster presentations. The symposium audience submitted questions virtually to students via the Zoom session moderator.
“The Undergraduate Student/Faculty Research Program and Symposium give students the rare opportunity to conduct graduate level research and present it in a professional setting,” said SCICU President and CEO Jeff Perez. “We’re deeply grateful for the faculty members who work with the students and mentor them.”
“SCICU has sponsored and funded undergraduate student research since 1995,” said Eddie Shannon, SCICU executive vice president. “During 2020, SCICU, through the support of generous donors, provided a total of $85,783 in undergraduate student research funding.”
Research funding for 2020 included $17,929 for five projects that were delayed due to COVID-19. The five projects involving student researchers attending Claflin, Converse, Furman, and Newberry will commence in 2021 and findings will be presented at the 2022 research symposium.
Student Research Donor Support
SCICU thanks donors for their generous support of the 2020 Undergraduate Student/Faculty Research Program and 2021 research symposium:
- Belle W. Baruch Foundation
- BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
- Daniel-Mickel Foundation
- Mills B. Lane Foundation
- Milliken Foundation
- Nephron SC, Inc.
- SCICU General Endowment