By: Alexa Theuerling and Gabrielle Goerler
Mount St. Joseph University's cITe Scholars Program had the incredible opportunity to host our first Ideas in Action: Undergraduate Student Academic Research Showcase on October 15th, 2024. The showcase featured eleven presenters from Mount St. Joseph University, Shawnee State University, and Laurea University of Applied Sciences in Finland.
Throughout the Ideas in Action Showcase, students had the chance to present their work, network with students and faculty from other institutions, and learn video editing skills through a student-led demonstration. Students presented on a wide range of topics from educational approaches, technological innovations, and work-based learning experiences in the health field. Our presenters discussed the impacts of project-based learning, international collaborations, and different networking approaches, along with research on nuclear power transparency, AI-based self-driving technology, and the role of virtual reality in radiology. Students also discussed their work and learning within the health field through presentations on forensic odontology, the effectiveness of isopropyl alcohol in bacterial reduction, the role of aesthetics in dental websites, and their clinical experiences within radiology and dentistry.
As student co-hosts, we (Lexi and Gabbie) helped our professor, Brook Batch, prepare for and host the event. Before the conference, we helped create flyers to promote the event and brainstorm how we could engage our showcase attendees. To do this, our team decided to open the Showcase with a game of icebreaker bingo to help people meet and interact in a fun way.
Lexi’s Reflection
Over the years, I have had the opportunity to present and attend conferences on a statewide, national, and international level. One of the main things at the core of a conference is to have those in attendance take away ideas that may better them, whether in their profession or personal life practices. This was at the forefront of our minds when we were designing this showcase, trying to understand the big idea to take home with our attendees. One of my biggest hopes was to give all students a chance to become comfortable speaking in front of a large group, network with other students or faculty, and present and discuss the research they have done thus far in the field. We often do not have the time or space to do this as undergraduate students, or just tend to overlook our successes. My notion is that, even on the most miniature scale, all should celebrate the little victories from day to day, and I wanted students to feel that impact in this showcase.
Looking back on my academic journey, one of the most impactful experiences came early in my college career. Reflecting on my first year, I had the opportunity to work on a research project where we developed an app called MomsThrive for low-income mothers of diverse backgrounds with direct access to prenatal and childbirth care in partnership with Five Rivers in Dayton, Ohio. As a freshman, having the opportunity to utilize the skills I gained in my classes and directly see an impact I was making within the greater Dayton community made me feel such immense pride. It made me realize that we can change things in research and touch communities that otherwise may have never received help.
Gabbie’s Reflection
Speaking at a conference can be intimidating, especially when nerves start to take over. However, one thing I’ve learned in the cITe program is that it’s important to step out of your comfort zone and discuss topics you are passionate about. So far, I have spoken at conferences on a local scale as well as internationally. Although this wasn’t the first conference I’ve spoken at, I still tend to feel nervous before presenting. At this showcase, I spoke about video editing, a subject I have grown to love and one I have presented to classes before. When presenting at a conference, you should always choose a topic that excites you. Why speak about something you don’t have a true connection to? I feel as if you should speak about a topic important to you so it has a personal and more authentic motive.
Having the opportunity to aid in organizing the showcase was a beneficial learning experience. We learned all the things that go into making a conference happen, which included recruiting, reserving an area, creating a schedule, and advertising the conference. We can add this unique skill to our CVs. It can be hard to encourage the students to present their research or work-based experiences as students can be nervous when getting in front of an audience, but in the end, the conference was a success and we received great feedback about the turnout!
Conclusion
The cITe Scholar Program’s first showcase at Mount St. Joseph University was a success, providing a place for students to share their research, exchange ideas, and grow professionally. The showcase provided a space for students to step outside of their comfort zones and present something that’s important to them. The diversity among the presentations was fascinating, as it contained topics about gentrification, nuclear power, self-driving cars, networking, video editing, radiology, and dentistry. We hope that cITe’s Ideas in Action showcase will continue to provide a space for students and faculty to connect, collaborate, and inspire one another in the years to come!
