Alondra Cruz
  • Biological Science
  • Class of 2018
  • MCDONOUGH, GA

Alondra Cruz Participates in STEM Research Conference

2017 Apr 3

Alondra Cruz of McDonough participated in the Spring STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Research Conference at Georgia State University, sponsored by the Center for STEM Education Initiatives and the Undergraduate STEM Research Society (USRS), on March 31, 2017.

Cruz is majoring in Biological Science.

On March 31, students from Georgia State's STEM departments presented nearly 150 posters at the spring conference, a 50 percent increase from the fall. Topics of student posters included physics, cell biology, chemistry, ecology and sustainability.

The STEM Research Conference is designed to provide an informal opportunity for STEM students gain initial exposure to the research process, to develop confidence in scientific communication, to network, and to receive constructive feedback from the university community.

The Center for STEM Education Initiatives, housed in the university's College of Arts and Sciences, and USRS host the event each semester and invite students of all stages of their academic careers to present, ranging from research ideas and literature reviews by sophomores to well-developed projects by juniors and seniors.

Faculty, students and administrators join the event not only to see or deliver research presentations, but also to learn how Georgia State is leveraging signature research experiences to drive student interest in the STEM fields. Students leave the STEM Research Conference more confident in their capacity to engage scientifically and energized by a sense of belonging to the scientific community.

College of Arts and Sciences Dean Sara Rosen visited with students and faculty during the event. Additionally, the STEM Research Conference showcased course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) being developed at Georgia State.

CUREs are one of the central platforms where faculty are scaling up meaningful signature experiences in a large institution such as Georgia State.