Elon students had an opportunity to share their research with peers and faculty members April 10 during the tenth annual Student Undergraduate Research Forum (SURF). Details...
More than 100 students presented posters, PowerPoint presentations, experiments and theatrical performances representing a variety of academic disciplines, ranging from science and math to performing arts and literature. In addition to introducing students to scholarly research work, SURF gives students the opportunity to have their findings presented at national conferences and published in academic journals.
Katie Park, a senior from Fuquay-Varina, N.C., worked with faculty mentors Richard Haworth and Bill Barbee to use geometry and the Pythagorean Theorem to demonstrate the way to lace shoes using the shortest amount of shoestring. Her PowerPoint presentation included charts, graphs and mathematical equations supporting her findings.
In Yeager Recital Hall, Kristen Robeson discussed the works of pianist Franz Liszt, who revolutionized the art of playing by using crossed hands on the keyboard to achieve a variety of musical effects. Ramon Brito followed Robeson’s discussion with a performance of several works to demonstrate Liszt’s technique. Both students worked under the direction of faculty mentor Victoria Fischer.
Jennifer Coleman worked with faculty mentor Greg Haenel, using DNA fingerprinting techniques to determine the paternity of a group of captive chimpanzees at the North Carolina Zoo. She discussed a variety of testing methods to determine the paternity of the chimps, including the use of hair samples.
Many students presented their work during a poster session Wednesday afternoon in the Koury Center concourse, held in conjunction with a special College Coffee. Students, faculty mentors, moderators and invited guests enjoyed a banquet to close out the day.